On Friday afternoon, Hubert Hurkacz (ninth ATP) celebrated a fantastic success on the grass court docket in Halle. For the primary time in his profession, the Pole defeated German Alexander Zverev (4th ATP) 7:6, 6:4 and superior to the ultimate of the ATP 500 match. Even earlier than the semifinal match, Hurkacz was certain that from subsequent Monday he could be ranked the best in historical past, and so in seventh place on the planet rating. A possible match win in Halle would make Hurkacz solely 15 factors behind the Russian Andrei Rublev (sixth ATP).
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Within the closing, nevertheless, Hurkacz had a really troublesome activity as a result of his rival was the Italian Jannik Sinner, the present chief of the rating, the Pole’s doubles associate and his nice buddy. Up to now, Hurkacz has performed with Sinner 4 instances. The Pole was twice pretty much as good (7:6, 6:4 within the closing in Miami in 2021 and 6:3, 6:3 within the quarterfinals in Dubai in 2022), and the Italian was twice pretty much as good (6:2, 6:2 within the ATP Finals in 2021 and three:6, 7:6, 6:1 within the third spherical in Monte Carlo, in 2023).
The ultimate in Halle was additionally the primary assembly between Sinner and Hurkacz on grass.
Hurkacz is worse than Sinner. Two tie-breaks. Pole with motion throughout the match
The primary set was very even, and Hurkacz and Sinner received their service video games with none main issues. Within the third sport, Hurkacz saved one break level, and a sport later Sinner did the identical. In the end, nobody had the benefit of breaking, so every thing was resolved within the tie-break. Sinner began with a mini-break benefit, which he misplaced after some time. The Italian was already main 5:2, however due to a very good serve and a forehand error from his opponent, Hurkacz led to a draw.
Hurkacz had the set ball at 7:6, however he was unable to make use of it. On the third set ball, Sinner closed the tie-break, profitable 10-8.
Already in his first service sport within the second set, Hurkacz once more needed to defend break factors, ranging from 30:40. The Pole saved his personal serve, defending two break factors. Progressively, Sinner returned higher and higher, and extra balls returned to Hurkacz’s a part of the court docket. Within the fifth sport, Hurkacz delighted everybody in Halle when he performed the winner together with his again to the court docket. After that, it was 15:15, and Dawid Żbik from Eurosport referred to as the Pole “Hubert Magikacz”.
Within the sixth sport, Hurkacz was already shedding 15:30 and there was a stability, however the Pole saved his personal serve due to the winner and a service ace. In the end, the second set was additionally determined in a tie-break. Sinner gained the benefit of a mini-break and was already main 4:1, and after one other mini-break it was 5:1 for the rating chief. Sinner used the primary championship ball and, after profitable the tie-break 7:2, celebrated victory within the match in Halle. That is his first match received on grass courts.
Now Sinner and Hurkacz will compete on the Wimbledon Grand Slam, which will likely be held from July 1-14. There, Hurkacz’s greatest end result was the semi-final in 2021, whereas Sinner was within the semi-final final yr.