Monfils says Humbert should believe in himself on clay
French star Gael Monfils wants countryman Ugo Humbert to believe more in himself on clay.
Of Humbert’s six ATP titles (from six finals), five have come on hard courts and one on grass.
But in the latest edition of UTS show “All on the Table”, Monfils says Humbert needs to remind himself that he can be successful on the dirt.
“When I’m listening to you, I’m thinking that you have to be honest with yourself,” La Monf says. “You play well on clay. It’s a surface you appreciate less…but you can perform on it.”
Humbert has won just one match at Roland-Garros in five visits but, as Monfils reminds him, he won two Challenger Tour titles on clay in 2023, in Cagliari and Bordeaux. And he pushed two-time Roland-Garros runner-up Casper Ruud to a third set in the quarter-finals of the Monte-Carlo Masters this year.
“Not many players can win two 175s, not many people can go three sets with Casper Ruud, who plays the final in Monte-Carlo and wins Barcelona,” Monfils adds. “Not many players are doing what you’re doing. You like clay less, but that doesn’t stop you from doing well.”
Monfils also reveals that he has lost his own love for clay.
“I loved clay when I was young, it was my favourite surface, but now it’s the surface I hate the most,” he says. “It’s more physical for me. I’m faking to run fast…”
The complete video will be released on Wednesday.
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