



In the fourth round of the Australian Open, Hugo Humbert will face Alexander Zverev. Here’s my analysis and prediction for this intriguing matchup—will it be another long battle?
Hugo Humbert
Humbert has never truly shone at Grand Slam tournaments, with his best result being a fourth-round appearance, which he has now matched. Currently ranked 14th in the world at 26 years old, the French player is enjoying a solid season so far.
At this tournament, Humbert started with a straight-set win over Italy’s Matteo Gigante, 7-6, 7-5, 6-4, followed by a comfortable victory against Lebanon’s Hady Habib, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. His third-round match against Arthur Fils was expected to be tough, and he dropped the first set 4-6 before rallying to lead 7-5, 6-4, 1-0 when Fils retired. Humbert now faces a strong and experienced opponent in Zverev, but he has the tools to compete.
Alexander Zverev
The German player needs no introduction. A long-time member of the tennis elite, Zverev has yet to win a Grand Slam, despite twice reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open. At 27 years old, he is ranked second in the world and remains one of the sport's most consistent performers.
Zverev has been dominant so far, not dropping a single set. He dispatched Lucas Pouille with three 6-4 sets, defeated Pedro Martinez 6-1, 6-4, 6-1, and overcame Britain’s Firnley 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Winning a Grand Slam is well within Zverev’s reach, and his current form makes him a strong contender.
Match Facts
- Humbert has won four of his five matches this season.
- Zverev has won all five of his matches in 2024.
- Odds for the match: Humbert 5.25, Zverev 1.18.
Head-to-Head
The players have met three times, with Zverev leading 2-1. Their most recent match was in the 2024 Paris tournament final, where Zverev comfortably won 6-2, 6-2.
Prediction
Zverev is the clear favorite in this matchup, a position that’s hard to dispute. However, Humbert has shown resilience and could provide significant resistance, even pushing Zverev to fight hard for a victory. I don’t expect a quick match; my prediction is for the match to go beyond 3.5 sets.