This first success at Bercy relaunches the Lorrain in a draw where every match is won over the long haul, as this 2h39 evening showed. Van de Zandschulp could have closed out this set by serving at 5-4, then leading 4-0 in the tie-break. Humbert nevertheless took the tie-break 7-5.
The world No. 37, one rank ahead of his opponent of the evening, gave the Lorrain a hard time, who had to grind to snatch the first set.
The Frenchman could have closed the matter earlier. He earned two match points in the second set, before yielding in a second suffocating tie-break lasting about twenty minutes.
The final score, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (9), 6-3, sums up a choppy match, contested to the end, without the Frenchman ever really controlling the rhythm.
The Dutchman therefore levels at one set apiece, 7-6 (9). The encounter then shifts into a decisive third set.
Humbert quickly makes the difference there. He closes 6-3 and validates his ticket for the second round. In the next round, Humbert will face Italian Matteo Berrettini, world No. 43, or American Brandon Nakashima, No. 18.