After losing his opening match at the Monte-Carlo Masters on Tuesday, Ugo Humbert revealed that he has been competing with a broken bone. The world No. 20 took to the court with his hand heavily strapped up and lost a tight three-setter to Alexei Popyrin 3-6 7-6(2) 6-4.
The Frenchman has now confessed that he broke one of his fingers while appearing at the UTS Tour event in Nimes over the weekend. He played one exhibition match there without a splint before coming to Monte-Carlo and competing in bandages. Humbert is now keen to keep going and doesn’t want to stop his clay season.
Humbert immediately raised concerns when he came out to face Popyrin with his right hand covered in gauze. The 26-year-old still made it competitive winning the first set before Popyrin took the second in a tiebreak to force a decider. But the Australian world No. 27 broke in the penultimate game and served out the match.
After coming off the court, Humbert revealed that he had been playing with a broken pinky finger on his right hand since injuring himself in his room at the UTS event in Nimes on Saturday.
“I broke my fifth metacarpal bone. I fell, and I hit my hand against a bedside table. I was in my bedroom. I heard ‘crack,’ and I cracked the bone. It was just before the match against Gael. At the hotel, I was in a hurry and I slipped,” the seven-time title winner said.
Humbert still faced Gael Monfils and lost, though he had no strapping on his hand. UTS matches comprise four eight-minute quarters, so the short format didn’t put too much strain on the 26-year-old.
He continued: “[I played without a bandage] because the splint was being manufactured. It was not ready yet. I didn’t say anything. I went to hit at 6pm in the evening, and I used different kinds of bandages to see what was best and to see how I could play.
“And after, I used the splint since yesterday. It changed, because with just the bandage it was hurting a lot because of the vibrations, but with the splint, it helped me. Of course I can’t cover my backhand, but I can hit it.”
As a left-hander, Humbert is only really affected when he hits his backhand, and he believes the nature of the clay-court surface is helping to take the pressure off. The world No. 20 is now waiting for doctor’s orders but he’s entered in next week’s ATP 500 in Munich and wants to play.
“It was hurting a lot. I was proud of going out there, and now, after the match, I just had an ultrasound and it shows it didn’t get worse after that match. It’s a good thing. And the doctor said if you can use the splint, you can play if it doesn’t hurt too much,” he explained.
“I have to keep the splint for three to four weeks. I will have some pain for a while. The only thing I can do is rest.
“I think it would have been worse for me to not go out on the court today. I’m very proud that I was able to go there and see how far I can go. I really fought hard.
“I didn’t say anything during the whole match, but fortunately it’s clay, because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to play at all. With clay, I have a bit more time to turn around my backhand. I have to return from far behind because of that. It changes my game.
“I suppose this match will help me for further matches, and as long as the doctor gives me permission, I will keep playing. We’ll see day after day.”
While the issue didn’t get worse in Tuesday’s match, the French star knows he could stunt his recovery if he continues with his planned schedule. But Humbert doesn’t want to stop.
He added: “They said either you stop for three weeks and you come back after that and maybe you’ll feel better, or you play but the healing time might be longer.
“So I can’t stay sitting around drinking Actimel and doing nothing. It makes me crazy not being able to go and play. I want to try, even if I lose. I’m very proud that I’m able to go on that court.
“I chose to go to Munich. This is something I never do. Maybe it’s better for me, because the clay is very slow there.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk