Ugo Humbert, the French tennis star, has apologized to Karen Khachanov after being accused of unsportsmanlike conduct during their Rolex Paris Masters semifinal clash. The incident sparked controversy, with Khachanov criticizing Humbert’s behavior as “no class.”
Humbert, who reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final on home soil, initially believed Khachanov was experiencing cramps during the match. However, it was later revealed that the Russian had suffered a Grade 2 sprain in his right leg, prompting him to withdraw from the tournament.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Humbert expressed regret for his actions, stating that he had no knowledge of Khachanov’s injury. He explained that he had been focused on the intensity of the match and had misinterpreted the situation.
“I’m sorry to see that this has been misunderstood and even worse, described as a lack of fair play,” Humbert wrote. “I have great respect for Karen and for all the opponents I’ve had to meet so far.”
Khachanov, who had been on a hot streak after winning the Almaty Open title and reaching the final in Vienna, was visibly upset after the match. He accused Humbert of celebrating while he was injured, saying, “To (celebrate) while you see the other guy is on the ground? OK, see you next time.”
Humbert has since reached out to Khachanov personally to apologize and clear up the misunderstanding. He acknowledged that his behavior could have been better and vowed to learn from the experience.
Despite the controversy, Humbert’s performance in Paris was impressive. He upset Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals and reached his first Masters 1000 final on home soil. The 26-year-old is now ranked world No. 14, one spot shy of his career-high ranking.
