Overview

• Humphries’s thumb was inadvertently yanked by a fan during his first-round walk-on at Madison Square Garden.
• He struggled with pain-induced grip issues and mental distraction yet edged Stowe Buntz 6-4 to advance.
• He followed with victories over Danny Lauby in the quarterfinals, a 7-2 semifinal thrashing of Gerwyn Price, and an 8-6 win against Nathan Aspinall in the final.
• Throughout the tournament, his throwing-hand thumb remained visibly swollen, heightening concerns over athlete safety and spectator conduct.
• He plans to have the thumb X-rayed, to rest for several weeks and to skip next month’s World Series event in Poland before resuming competition in Kiel.