Ugo Humbert's strategy to improve on clay courts that has to do with Rafa Nadal

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The clay court season kicks off, one of the most cherished times for many tennis players. Despite Ugo Humbert's best results coming on hard courts, the Frenchman, currently ranked 20th in the world, is confident in performing well in the upcoming weeks. Humbert explained how he has learned to appreciate clay, sharing the strategies he implements to achieve success on this surface.

How are you adapting to the transition to clay courts?

"If I had been asked the same question two years ago, I would have replied, 'Oh, I don't feel like it,' because when I was young, they always told me that this surface didn't suit me. I had a flat backhand, and people told me I needed to add spin and play with more height. On clay, you have to think more about angles and spins, the game is slower, and you have to protect yourself. If you're too far behind your baseline and rely on strong, tense shots, which is what I used to do, you don't have time to turn the point around. I didn't quite understand the tactics before," Ugo explained in an interview with L'Equipe.

"I've worked a lot with Jeremy Chardy, watching many videos of Rafa. I focused on his movements and playing zones. Then, on the court, I tried to identify the situations that were challenging me. I'm a very intuitive person and I've always liked going for the winning shot, but sometimes it doesn't make sense."

Staying true to his tennis style

"I'm not changing my style either. I'm still an attacker, so when there's a short ball, I attack. I just need more patience to construct the point. Instead of finishing in two or three shots, I have to take more time to get a favorable ball. Initially, it was difficult for me because it requires a lot of thinking, and when you think, reflect, you get tired more easily. Now it comes more naturally to me; I feel good from the first shots. I don't want to dwell too much on the past; I'm convinced that my game can do well on this surface."

Current level

"In tennis, there are no rules. You can have a dream week, lift the trophy, and then be out in the first round a few days later, or vice versa. One might think that Draper will improve after winning the title, but he loses to Mensik in his first match. Everyone thinks it's a poor performance, but the Czech wins the tournament, showing that you can't limit yourself. The level is highly competitive.

I focus on what I can control. Nutrition, for example, is advice given to me by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. For the U.S. tour, I brought a chef because in previous years I had stomach pain and felt unwell on the court. I thought I was doing things right, being disciplined, but if you surround yourself with competent people, you can go even further. The same goes for my game on clay; I try to push every detail to the limit to enhance my fluency."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La estrategia de Ugo Humbert para mejorar en tierra batida que tiene que ver con Rafa Nadal