Ugo Humbert Defeats Daniel Evans in Tight 2025 Libema Open Round of 16 Grass Battle

Humbert Holds Firm on Grass to Down Evans

You don’t get many matches on grass these days where it’s just power against strategy in such an even duel. But that’s exactly what happened when Ugo Humbert, the second seed at the 2025 Libema Open, took on the clever British veteran Daniel Evans in the round of 16. Even though the scoreline—7-5, 6-3 for Humbert—suggests a comfortable win, things were anything but simple in this 1 hour and 40 minute contest.

Grass courts often reward the guy who can dominate on serve, and Humbert was on point from the very start. He hit his targets with alarming regularity, winning 78% of points behind his first delivery and racking up the aces. Daniel Evans tried to disrupt Humbert’s rhythm by digging deep into his shot selection repertoire—mixing in slice, changing direction, and extending rallies whenever he could. But Humbert just refused to get rattled.

Evans, who’s made a career out of making opponents uncomfortable with his variety and creative baseline game, managed to trouble Humbert on a few key points. But when break points arrived, the British player faltered, converting just 17% of his opportunities. That was a sharp contrast to Humbert, who pounced when given a sniff at Evans’ serve and made all his break chances count. In these tight grass matches, those narrow windows can decide everything.

Building on Semifinal Form

Humbert came into the Libema Open riding a bit of a wave—he’d made the semifinals in last year’s event, so he’s clearly comfortable on Dutch grass. His aggressive approach looked even sharper this time around. He tracked down Evans’ low slices, stayed patient through the longer rallies, and struck clean, flat winners each time Evans gave him a chance.

Both players have some experience on the surface—Evans picked up a Challenger title on grass a few years ago—but it’s Humbert’s game that seems perfectly shaped for ‘s-Hertogenbosch’s slick grass. From the baseline, the Frenchman remained cool even when Evans tried to drag him into messy exchanges. That temperament helped Humbert steer through a tight opening set, where just a couple of points proved the difference. Once he broke for a lead in the second set, Humbert barely looked back.

The win boosts Humbert into the quarterfinals, where he’ll face Nuno Borges next. And with another €8,960 in prize money banked, he’s building a solid campaign on grass, fueled by that lethal serve and ice-cold attitude when it matters. For Evans, it’s another frustrating early exit, undone by shaky break-point play against one of the most dangerous grass-courters in the draw.