In a tense match with some controversy, Pedro Martínez managed to debut his record of victories at the Masters 1,000 in Monte Carlo by beating Ugo Humbert in two sets (6-4 and 7-6 (5) in 2h30). The 28-year-old Valencian and 45th in the world got rid of the thorn of his first participation last year, when after losing in the second qualifying round against the Argentine Federico Delbonis he entered the main draw as a repechage, but had to withdraw in his debut against Tommy Paul when he fell 1-4. On Tuesday he will face the Pole Hubert Hurkacz.
On this occasion the physicist answered him and his tennis, although it was not the best he could offer as he himself reproached himself during the match, was enough to beat the 23-year-old Frenchman and 48th. The best thing that Pedro did was execute very precise interns on some Humbert climbs. Those blows gave him decisive points. Also the patience that he exhibited at the end, after having lost the papers a bit due to a difficult decision to understand from the chair umpire during the first set. “You’re out of your mind. Have you seen a tennis match?”, he told her after she annulled a clear point for an alleged throwback of the ball to the Spanish field after touching the net.
The fact is that after this incident in which Martínez requested the presence of the tournament referee, the one from Alzira calmed down to win a break-heavy first set, then rallied from 1-4 down in the second. He capped off the reaction in a long, tight endgame after a game in which he converted his fourth break point before losing his serve again. Luckily for him, in the tiebreaker he was more successful than his rival and avoided the possibility of a third set.
Results of the Masters 1,000 of Montecarlo.