First round, second round, first round, second round – in four years he played in only six matches and won only two. Now he has three consecutive wins and a fourth round. Now he shows that Grand Slam tournaments do not have to be a curse for him.
Four days ago, he didn’t give Pedro Martinez a chance. He defeated the Spaniard, ranked 60th in the ranking, in the first round 7: 6, 6: 2, 6: 2. Two days ago he lost to uncomfortable Italian Lorenzo Sonego (47 ATP) 1:2 in sets. With the score 3:6, 7:6, 2:6, we remembered Hurkacz’s very unfavorable record in all his Grand Slam appearances. But the world’s 11th tennis player interrupted these gloomy memories – he gathered himself, mobilized, entered the level appropriate for someone like that and won it confidently – 6:3 and 6:3.
The great master did not believe in Hurkacz
Now, in the third round, Hurkacz endured an even more nervous match against an even tougher opponent. Incredibly offensive Denis Shapovalov from Canada is world No. 22. Hurkacz seemed to break him when he was winning 2:0 in sets (7:6, 6:4). But none of that. The Pole lost the next set 1:6. Something bad started to happen to him. – Someone like Hurkacz should not lose a set 1:6. He has a powerful serve, he cannot be broken like this – commented in the Eurosport studio Mats Wilander. The seven-time Grand Slam champion did not hide his bets on the Canadian. At 2:2 in sets (7:6, 6:4, 1:6, 4:6) the Pole’s shares were not high. Shapovalov clenched his teeth, waved his clenched fist and yelled at the Margaret Court Arena after each successful move. And Hurkacz was more and more in the shadows.
But the strength of his calmness proved priceless. In the last set, Hurkacz was already guarding his serve, and in the sixth game he broke the rival’s serve and made it 4:2. The power of calm Hurkacz impressed especially at 5:3 and 0:40. Then he served, then the rival had three breakpoints, three chances to stay in the match. But then the Pole played the best he could. First he led to the state of 40:40. After a while, he defended his fourth breakpoint, serving an ace at a speed of 223 km/h! And after another moment, he was already receiving congratulations from his rival. For another incredibly important victory.
Only Hurkacz’s third time. And there are already 19 starts
Two weeks ago, during the United Cup, Hurkacz told Sport.pl how much fun it gives him to play together with . Then . Trying to find out if Iga and Hubert had already set up a plan to play together, to gain experience, I heard that neither she nor he was planning on any mixed doubles this season at Grand Slam tournaments. It’s natural for Iga to aim for more titles. However, it was great (and surprising) to hear that Hubert wants to play seven singles matches in each such tournament.
Seven matches in Grand Slam tournaments are played by only two players – the finalists. Hurkacz has never been in such a final before. And only once was he close – in 2021 at Wimbledon, where he reached the semi-finals.
Hurkacz’s entire achievements in Grand Slam tournaments so far have looked like this:
- Roland Garros 2018 – Second round
- Wimbledon 2018 – 1st round
- US Open 2018 – Second round
- Australian Open 2019 – 1st round
- Roland Garros 2019 – 1st round
- Wimbledon 2019 – 3rd round
- US Open 2019 – 1st round
- Australian Open 2020 – Second round
- Roland Garros 2020 – 1st round
- Us Open 2020 – 2nd round
- Australian Open 2021 – First round
- Roland Garros 2021 – Round I
- Wimbledon 2021 – semi-final
- US Open 2021 – Second round
- Australian Open 2022 – Second round
- Roland Garros 2022 – 4th round
- Wimbledon 2022 – 1st round
- US Open 2022 – Second round
Out of 18 tournaments, only two were good for him – only two made it to week two. Now it is in its second week for the third time. In Australia for the first time. And 100 percent want more. After all, looking at his ambition of playing seven games, he only made 4/7 of the plan as he secured himself a fourth game in Melbourne.
It was only during the ongoing Australian Open that Hurkacz turned a plus in the balance of won and lost Grand Slam matches. After three wins at Melbourne Park, they now have 20 wins and 18 losses. And most importantly, he has confirmation of what he felt – that he was capable of much more than he showed in Grand Slam tournaments. There was no situation he couldn’t get out of. That he should never give up. Now he will play for his second Grand Slam quarterfinal. With American Sebastian Korda (31 ATP). In their only duel so far, it was Hurkacz who won (6:3, 6:3 in the final in Delray Beach in 2021).
Source: Sport
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
