ATP Tour

Moutet shows 'heart' in 3-hour Lyon duel vs. two-time champ Humbert

Corentin Moutet showed his fighting spirit to earn a gutsy victory against an experienced opponent on his return to action at the Grand Prix Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes on Tuesday afternoon.

Competing for the first time since retiring from his opening match at the US Open in August due to a wrist injury, Moutet battled past two-time defending champion Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-6(4) at the ATP 250 event in Lyon. In a dramatic deciding set, Moutet appeared to struggle with cramps and also took a medical timeout to treat his wrist, but the Frenchman dug deep to seal victory after three hours and 21 minutes.

“I just played with my heart,” Moutet, the No. 94 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, said. “I tried to give everything I had. I missed the competition so much that I didn’t want to give 99 per cent. I wanted to give 200 per cent, because I’m so glad to be on the court today.”

Humbert lifted the trophy in 2024 and 2025 when the tournament was held in Marseille before relocating to Lyon this year. The 28-year-old looked poised to extend his winning run when he moved 2/0 ahead in the deciding-set tie-break, but Moutet responded by winning seven of the final nine points to complete an impressive win.

Moutet now owns a 9-19 record in 2026, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, and will next look to build on his encouraging return against fellow Frenchman and #NextGenATP prospect Felix Balshaw in Lyon.

Two qualifiers also claimed victories earlier on Tuesday. Borna Gojo upset eighth seed Arthur Fery 6-3, 7-6(2), while home favourite Pierre-Hugues Herbert overcame Sebastian Baez. Herbert will next face second seed Taylor Fritz, who is aiming to strengthen his bid for a return to the Nitto ATP Finals as he sits 13th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin.