‘Next Gen’ stars Auger-Aliassime and Humbert set for battle
18 year old sensation Felix Auger Aliassime will take on fellow Wimbledon debutant Ugo Humbert in today’s third round match.
Auger Aliassime sits second in the ATP’s 21 and under ‘Next Gen’ rankings , with French Humbert sitting ninth three years senior to his opponent. It is the first meeting between the pair and prior to this year’s tournament neither man had been this far in a Grand Slam event.
21 year old Humbert made the second round of the US Open last year, when he beat American qualifier Collin Altamirano in straight sets, before losing Stanislas Wawrinka in four sets. Auger Aliassime on the other hand had never won a Grand Slam match before Wimbledon, losing his only attempt to compatriot Denis Shapovalov also at last year’s US Open.
Humbert has been defeated in the first round of both the Australian and French Opens this year, whilst his opponent failed to qualify in Melbourne and missed Paris due to injury.
The man from Montreal sits 45 places higher than Humbert, and is enjoying a breakthrough year. Starting 2019 he was ranked 108th in the world, but reaching the finals of Rio de Janeiro and Stuttgart, as well as an impressive run to the semi final of the Miami Open Masters, have seen the youngster rise to 21st in the ATP rankings. More recently he earned respect from the British crowds when beating Grigor Dimitrov, Nick Kyrgios and number 1 ‘Next Gen’ Stefanos Tsitsipas in a run to the semi-finals of his debut Queens.
Humbert has struggled of recent, only recording two wins through the entire clay court season. Following this he suffered first round defeats at the Surbiton Trophy and Libema Open on the ATP Challenger Tour. He has had a change of fortune this week however, coming back from two sets down to move past compatriot Gael Monfils in the fifth set after the world number 15 retired due to injury. The Metz man backed it up in a straight sets victory against qualifier Marcel Granollers.
Teenager Auger Aliassime has enjoyed his first Wimbledon defeating both Vasek Pospisil and fellow ‘Next Gen’ Corentin Moutet in four sets. He goes in favorite to set up a potential fourth round clash with world number one Novak Djokovic.
Auger Aliassime (Canada)
Age: 18
ATP ranking: 21
Wimbledon seeding: 19
Career Wimbledon record: 2-0
Career Grand Slam record: 2-1
Career grass record: 8-2
Ugo Humbert (France)
Age: 21
ATP ranking: 66
Wimbledon seeding: Unseeded
Career Wimbledon record: 2-0
Career Grand Slam record: 3-3
Career grass record: 3-2
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