France's top tennis player Ugo Humbert came from a set down on Saturday to beat Karen Khachanov and advance to the final of the 2024 Paris Masters.
The 26-year-old, who saw off world number two Carlos Alcaraz in the last-16, outfought the 2018 champion to progress 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 in just under three hours.
"I didn't feel as good or as fresh as I have done in other matches," said Humbert on court in the immediate aftermath of the win over the 28-year-old Russian.
"But when things weren't going as well I wanted, I fought like I have done all week and I came through. I'm really very proud of myself."
Humbert, the first local hero to reach the final since Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2011, will take on the third seed Alexander Zverev in an attempt to win his first crown at one of the circuit's nine Masters events – considered as the most prestigious titles on the ATP tour after the four Grand Slam evnts in Melbourne, Paris, London and New York.
"I played with my heart," Humbert added nearly an hour after the victory at the Accor Arena in Bercy, south-eastern Paris.
"The crowd pushed me and gave me a second wind at the start of the third set."
Sunday's showdown will be the third meeting between pair. Humbert won their first encounter on the grass in Germany at Halle in 2021.
Confidence
Zverev avenged the defeat last year in the second round at the Paris Masters.
"The tennis was at a good level in that match," Humbert recalled of the clash.
"Even though I lost, I gained a lot of confidence and I realised that I was not that far off the level of one of the big stars of the circuit."
Zverev, who lost in the final at the French Open in June, was too solid for the 2022 champion Holger Rune in their semi-final on Saturday afternoon.
The 27-year-old German controlled the first set after breaking the Dane in the fourth game.
In the second, he took Rune's service to lead 5-4 with his own serve to follow. But Zverev fluffed his chance to wrap up the match.
In the tiebreaker at six games apiece, Zverev reasserted his authority and claimed the shootout seven points to four.
“I feel like I made it a little difficult for myself," Zverev admitted after the match.
"But Holger is a champion. The Paris Masters is probably his favourite tournament and favourite court so I am happy to be in my second final here, I am looking forward to it.”
