Ugo Humbert – the hometown hero who stole hearts by making it to last year’s Paris Masters final was supposed to bring the magic back. But just like that, the dream hit pause… Days before his first match, Humbert announced he’s pulling out. The 27-year-old French No. 1, fresh off a finals run in Stockholm and a semifinal in Basel, looked unstoppable until injury forced him to retire against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina last week. Humbert will now miss the Top 30 for the first time since 2023 as his runner-up points from the previous season start to fade. What specifically caused him to withdraw, however, is the true question.

It turns out that Ugo Humbert’s unexpected absence was caused by more than just bad timing; it was the nagging back injury that had been bothering him for weeks, though it isn’t believed to be severe. His body simply did not recover in time for Paris after it first flared up in Basel, forcing him to leave the game in the middle. It’s a tough blow for the hometown favorite. But, Humbert’s exit opens the door for 24-year-old Valentin Royer, who lost in the final round of qualifying, to sneak into the main draw as a lucky loser. And the kicker is his first opponent: Humbert was set to face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the opening round.

This season, Ugo Humbert went 25-20 on the year, taking his seventh ATP title in Marseille. Few do it better under a roof: four titles from six finals says it all. But when people talk about Ugo Humbert, they still come back to that run in Paris last year. Remember, he took down Carlos Alcaraz on his way to the final, becoming the first Frenchman since Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2011 to play for the trophy at home.

Then came Alexander Zverev, player spoiler. The German breezed through 6-2, 6-2 in just over an hour, as Humbert struggled to find his range, landing barely half his first serves and dropping four service games.

The 27-year-old had been planning to play in Metz, another home event, but that too looks unlikely. The 2023 champion plans to end his season early, rest, and focus on returning stronger in 2026. When fit, he lights up any court in the world.

Apart from the Paris Masters: Ugo Humbert’s battle beyond the baseline 

Back in April, Ugo Humbert revealed he had fractured the fifth metacarpal bone in his right hand after a slip in his hotel room. It was one of those freak accidents that instantly changed his rhythm during the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. He played Alexei Popyrin in the first round, losing in three sets 6-3, 6-7, 4-6. After the match, Humbert showed up at the press conference with a large bandage on his right hand and explained that he had slipped in his hotel room during the UTS event (Ultimate Tennis Showdown), fracturing his fifth metacarpal.

He admitted, “I was in a lot of pain. I was happy to be on court, but the ultrasound showed my condition hadn’t worsened, which was good. The doctor told me I could play with a splint if the pain wasn’t too bad, but it was.” He pushed through with both X-rays and ultrasounds, confirming the strain.

Then came May. During another match at the French Open (Roland Garros), Humbert retired mid-way after a painful calf injury affected his movement. After a long medical timeout, he returned to the court with his leg tightly bandaged. He tried to push through, but it was clear he couldn’t continue.

For one of France’s greatest hopes, it was yet another cruel conclusion. Novak Djokovic withdrew from the Rolex Paris Masters because of fatigue. Jack Draper and Holger Rune both withdrew due to injuries, just like Humbert.

“It drives me crazy not being able to play. I want to try, even if I lose. I chose to go to Munich. It’s something I never do, and maybe it’s better for me because the clay there is very slow.”

His battle to keep playing the game he loves involves more than just missing games; it also involves fighting his own body.