Displaying a natural affinity for grass, Ugo Humbert produced a superb performance at Wimbledon on Wednesday when too strong for Roland-Garros finalist Casper Ruud.

If one looked solely at the rankings gulf between the No.3 seed Ruud and the Frenchman, who is ranked No.112, his 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 victory could be misconstrued as a major upset.

But it does a disservice to both men to suggest this is a shock result given their prior history on grass courts, both at Wimbledon and also on the ATP Tour at large. 

The sustained excellence of Ruud, who became the first Norwegian man to reach a Grand Slam final at Roland-Garros earlier in June, has been reserved for clay and hard courts.

The 23-year-old is almost a grass court novice, with the right-hander’s sole Wimbledon triumph in three visits occurring on Monday when he defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas in straight sets.

Humbert may be sitting outside the top 100 but he is a proven performer on grass courts, as he demonstrated again in a victory resplendent with flourishes of flair.

A year ago he was denied by Nick Kyrgios in a five set thriller in the opening round. In 2019 the left-hander reached the fourth round, only to run into legend and eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

The 24-year-old peaked at a ranking of 25 after winning a title on grass courts at Halle in 2021 and rated highly among the most dangerous unseeded players this Wimbledon. 

As Humbert said after his triumph in a match lasting two hours and 36 minutes, the natural surface suits his aggression and enhances the quality of his favourite weapons.

“I love to play on grass. I have played a lot of good matches,” Humbert said.

“I think about the match last year against Kyrgios. It was a big battle. I (have) won Halle, so I think I play very nice (on grass) because of my serve, and my backhand is very great.”

It is an assessment Ruud, who started well once the rain that delayed play for almost two hours on Wednesday cleared, would agree with due to the trouble both shots provided him.

The early portents were not good for Humbert, who arrived on court without the essentials.

As he explained on the court prior to the ball toss: “I do not have any rackets. I am sorry.”

When handed three rackets shortly after, Humbert broke into a broad smile and received a round of applause from fans eagerly awaiting some live action. 

It took a while for him to find form, with Ruud seizing an early service break and holding the advantage through the first set.

But once finding his rhythm Humbert, who wore his hat backwards and sported a dangling silver necklace, drew further applause due to the quality of his play.

As a helicopter circled overhead Wimbledon at the start of the second set, Humbert let fly with a thunderous off-forehand return winner to set up a breakpoint opportunity at one-all.

Another superb return, this time a backhand which clipped the line, had Ruud on the run and enabled the Frenchman to seize control of the point at the net.

With his nose ahead, he continued to press. Whenever an opportunity opened to approach the net, Humbert would seize it with glee, such is his comfort there. 

With the match level at a set apiece, the early stages of the third set became an arm wrestle.

Ruud broke early. Humbert retrieved it. Fists were clenched. Volleys were punched. Humbert remained the aggressor, Ruud the counter-puncher. But the Frenchman looked more likely.

He secured a pivotal break at five-all when driving a backhand return deep up the middle of the court, which drew an error from his rival.

A similar pattern unfolded in the fourth set. Ruud held three break points while leading 3-2 but could not convert any of them and, with the pressure rising, he faltered.

A double-fault when serving at four-all gifted Humbert two break points and the Frenchman was able to seize the game with a passing shot on his preferred backhand wing.

“It is a big victory. He played very well the last few years, so I am very happy,” he said.

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