Defending champ Humbert sees off Bublik in Marseille, Medjedovic upsets Khachanov

Ugo Humbert had to navigate a tricky opener on Wednesday, but the defending champion is up and running at the Open 13 Provence in Marseille.

The second seed held firm for a 7-6(6), 6-4 triumph over Alexander Bublik to begin his title defence at the indoor hard-court ATP 250. Bublik’s booming serve — he hit 10 aces — caused Humbert issues for much of the 93-minute contest. Yet the Frenchman converted his third match point with a backhand return winner to improve to 2-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“I felt really bad today, but in the end I found a solution,” said Humbert. “It’s not easy to come back, but it’s a real pleasure because I have great memories [here]. Anything can happen [against Bublik], he plays so good indoors. He [has] won titles in Montpellier, so I knew it wasn’t going to be easy with his big serve, but I’m very proud of this victory.

“It’s a different tournament for me, because I have a title to defend. It’s a different pressure, but I will try to find a solution to win my matches here. It’s a pleasure to play in France, [the crowd] pushes me every time, so I really like to play in Marseille.”

Awaiting Humbert next in his title defence is Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego, who advanced to the quarter-finals after lucky loser Luca Van Assche was forced to retire prior to his second-round meeting with the seventh seed through illness.

Hamad Medjedovic added to his impressive indoor record by upsetting 2018 champion Karen Khachanov 6-2, 6-3. The 21-year-old produced an aggressive performance to oust the third seed in 72 minutes and reach his third tour-level quarter-final on the surface.

Medjedovic, who triumphed at the 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, was hampered by injury last season, but finished the year with an impressive run to the final at his home ATP 250 in Belgrade (l. to Denis Shapovalov). The Serbian won an ATP Challenger Tour title in Portugal last month to make his Top 100 debut before stunning World No. 12 Holger Rune at the Davis Cup.

Next in Marseille for Medjedovic is a meeting with Daniel Altmaier, who powered past Otto Virtanen 6-4, 6-3 to reach his second consecutive quarter-final. The German, who last week made the quarters in Rotterdam as a lucky loser, saved all nine of the break points he faced in the second set against Virtanen, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Earlier, qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert rallied past countryman Harold Mayot 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 to set a meeting with top seed Daniil Medvedev. Their second-round clash will be a rematch of the 2021 final in Marseille, which Medvedev won in three sets. The 29-year-old leads his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Herbert 2-1.