In a thrilling three-set clash on Halloween night, French No. 1 Ugo Humbert stunned world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the third round of the Paris Masters. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Humbert's passionate performance and the electric Parisian crowd playing a pivotal role in his victory.

A Hometown Hero's Revenge

Humbert's Frustration Fuels Upset Bid

Ugo Humbert, the top-ranked Frenchman, had been vocal about his disappointment with the tournament organizers for relegating him to the secondary court in the earlier rounds. Claiming he "deserved" prime billing, Humbert was determined to prove his worth on the big stage. And he did just that, using the full support of the Accor Arena crowd to his advantage as he stepped out to headline the night session on Thursday.Humbert wasted no time in asserting his dominance, racing into a 5-0, double-break lead over Alcaraz. The world No. 18 needed just 27 minutes to take the opening set 6-1, leaving the four-time Major winner looking helpless. Alcaraz, known for his resilience, found himself in a precarious position as he trailed 0-30 in the first game of the second set. But the Spaniard dug deep, holding on and roaring in delight, trying to pump himself up.

Alcaraz Fights Back, but Humbert Prevails

Alcaraz raised his level, putting the home hero under pressure as Humbert was forced to save three break points. The world No. 2 continued to press and was finally rewarded with his first break, taking the second set 6-3 and forcing a decider. Humbert left the court to change his clothes, and Alcaraz took the opportunity to speak with his team and have some fun with the crowd, laughing at some of the fans' Halloween costumes on the screen.But when play resumed, Alcaraz was back to business, dazzling the crowd with some exceptional points and momentarily winning their support as he touched his ear to spur them on. The two players went deep into the decider without a single break point arising, but it was Alcaraz's turn to face some trouble while serving to stay in the match at 5-6.The crowd were chanting Ugo before the game even started, and they went wild when Alcaraz hit a double fault to trail 0-30, forcing the umpire to intervene and tell them they were "affecting both players." Humbert could sense the finish line was near, and he suddenly had two match points. Alcaraz saved the first with a big serve, but he sent the ball long on the second, and the arena erupted in celebration.

Humbert's Redemption and Alcaraz's Parisian Woes

The world No. 18 roared and launched his hat into the air in celebration before hugging Alcaraz at the net. It was a sweet moment of redemption for Humbert, who had gone on a frustrated rant after his second-round match was scheduled on Court 1 while some of his lower-ranked compatriots got Court Central billing on Wednesday."I was disappointed, because I think I deserved better. I'm No. 1 French player, and I have practiced on the centre court," he had said after beating Marcos Giron. "It's my favourite tournament. I was disappointed that I was not on the centre court. But I have deserved to play for the third round."Humbert proved his worth on Thursday night, dumping out the highest-ranked player left in the draw to book his spot in his second Paris Masters quarter-final. For Alcaraz, the loss continues his struggles at the Bercy tournament, where he had gone two years without winning a match before making a comeback in 2024. The young Spaniard will have to regroup and come back stronger, determined to conquer his Parisian demons and add another prestigious title to his growing collection.