Alexander Schevchenko beat French wild card Pierre Hugues Herbert 6-4 6-4 after 77 minutes to advance to his first ATP Tour level final at the Moselle Open in Metz. Schevchenko has become the youngest finalist in Metz since Lucas Pouille in 2016.
Schevchenko fired eight aces and broke three times. The Russian player has moved up to world number 49 in the ATP Tour Live Ranking.
Schevchenko broke twice in the first and fifth games to take a 4-1 lead. Herbert pulled one break back in the sixth game for 2-4. Schevchenko held on his final two service games to win the first set 6-4. Herbert saved three break points in the seventh game to hold serve at deuce. Schevchenko broke serve in the ninth game before serving out on his first match point.
Schevchenko won two ATP Challenger Tour titles and reached the quarter final in Basel.
Schevchenko set up a final against Ugo Humbert, who cruised past Fabio Fognini 6-0 6-2 to reach his fourth tour-level and his first since Halle in 2021. The Frenchman also won two titles Antwerp and Auckland in 2020. Humbert broke five times. He will move to the top 20 if he wins the Metz title.
