Hubert Hurkacz Ousts Rublev In Thriller To Win Shanghai Masters - UBITENNIS
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Hubert Hurkacz Ousts Rublev In Thriller To Win Shanghai Masters

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Image via https://twitter.com/ATPTour_ES/

Hubert Hurkacz saved a duo of match points against Andrey Rublev to capture his second Masters 1000 title in Shanghai. 

The Polish world No.17 held his nerve to edge out Rublev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(8), in what was a roller-coaster encounter that lasted just over two hours. It is only the second time this season that Hurkacz has beaten a top-10 player after getting the better of Stefanos Tsitsipas in Cincinnati over the summer. In his latest match, he fired 21 aces past his opponent and only dropped serve once to become the first player from his country to win multiple Masters 1000 titles in singles since the category was introduced in 2009.

“It’s been such a battle, especially emotionally,” the new champion said afterwards. “On match point, Andrey hit an amazing serve and then I had some match points, so we were just going back and forward. It was just such a tricky match.”
“Andrey was playing some great shots. I was trying to respond with some good ones as well. It was just one of those matches where you just had to stay in it until the end.’
“I’m super happy with how I managed it at the end.”

Playing in his third Masters 1000 final at the age of 26, Hurkacz got off to a strong start by producing a dominant service display throughout the opening set. The Pole impressively won 20 out of his 25 service points played. Something that visibly frustrated a highly animated Rublev who vented his anger towards his camp in the crowd and appeared to have said ‘I give up’ after losing one point. 

Hurkacz sealed his first break of the match in the sixth game after hitting a forehand winner past his opponent to move ahead 4-2. He then went on to seal the opener in just 32 minutes by hitting a blistering ace out wide.

Despite dropping a set for the first time in Shanghai this year, Rublev came back fighting in the second frame by winning three games in a row. Elevating the intensity of his shotmaking, the Russian fired 16 winners past Hurkacz to level up the match. 

Heading into the decider, there was little to separate both players in their quest for Masters glory. Hurkacz faced a break point at 1-1 but managed to save it with an ace. The Pole then managed to work his way to his first match point under controversial circumstances whilst leading 5-4. A forehand passing shot flew past Rublev who said he was distracted by movement in the photographer area. Prompting the livid Russian to scream at that area of the court which resulted in him receiving a code violation. After that incident, Rublev saved the match point with an ace before holding for 5-5. 

The rollercoaster tussle continued into what was a dramatic tiebreaker that saw constant changes in momentum. Rublev was the first to strike by storming to a 5-2 lead before Hurkacz clawed his way back to eventually level at 5-5. Two points later he saved a match point by producing his 20th ace in the final. Hurkacz then had another two match points of his own but failed to convert before finally prevailing after a Rublev forehand crashed into the net. 

Hurkacz is the sixth player to have won the Shanghai title with past champions including Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Federer was among those in the stands watching this year’s final.

“It’s really cool,” Hurkacz commented on joining the list of champions. “Seeing Roger in the stands and healthy. He has so much success here (in Shanghai), winning it a couple of times. It’s such a big tournament with so much tradition throughout the year. It’s a huge event and I’m really happy today.”

As a result of his latest triumph, Hurkacz is closing in on a place in the Nitto ATP Finals in Milan next month. He now has 2775 points to his name which is just 335 points behind the last qualifying spot which is currently being held by Hogler Rune. He successfully qualified for the event in 2022 and was an alternate last year. 

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Wrist Injury Threatening To End Holger Rune’s Olympic Dream

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Holger Rune will have a second medical opinion on Monday before deciding if he is fit enough to play at the Olympic Games, according to his team. 

The Danish world No.17 recently retired from his quarter-final match at the Hamburg Open due to a knee injury. The hope at the time was that his withdrawal would be just a precautionary measure ahead of the Olympics. However, he is also dealing with a second issue that appears to be more serious.

According to TV 2 Sport, Rune has been struggling with a wrist issue and underwent a scan on Sunday which his mother Aneke says ‘doesn’t look promising.’ Aneke is also the manager of her son’s career. Rune’s Olympic dreams now rest on the outcome of a second medical expert that he will visit tomorrow who has a better understanding of the sport. 

“Unfortunately, it does not look promising after the first medical opinion after the review of the scan of the wrist,” Aneke Rune told TV 2 Sport.

“We are waiting for two tennis-specific doctors who will give a second opinion tomorrow (Monday). Tennis wrists look different from regular wrists, so we’ll hold out hope for one more day.” 

Rune is one of three Danish players entered into the Olympic tennis event along with Caroline Wozniacki and Clara Tauson. The country has only won one medal in tennis before which was at the 1912 Games when Sofie Castenschiold won silver in the women’s indoor singles event. 

So far this season, the 21-year-old has won 27 matches on the Tour but is yet to claim a title. He reached the final of the Brisbane International and then the semi-finals of three more events. In the Grand Slams, he made it to the fourth round of the French Open and Wimbledon. 

It is not known when a final decision regarding Rune’s participation in Paris will be made.

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Hubert Hurkacz Undergoes ‘Knee Procedure’ Ahead of Olympic Bid

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Poland’s top player on the ATP Tour is not giving up on his dream of winning a medal at the Olympic Games despite recently undergoing a medical procedure.

World No.7 Hubert Hurkacz suffered a knee injury during his second round clash at Wimbledon against France’s Arthur Fils. In the fourth set tiebreak of their clash, Hurkacz dived for a shot but landed badly on his knee and required on-court medical attention. He then played two more points before retiring from the match. 

In a social media post published on Wednesday, the  27-year-old confirmed he underwent a procedure on his knee earlier this week but didn’t provide any further details.  Although Hurkacz has stated his intention to play at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, where the tennis event will be held on the clay at Roland Garros. 

“I had a knee procedure this Monday, but I’m feeling better already and my team and are dedicating extensive time each day to the rehab process.” He wrote on Instagram. 

“It’s a dream for every athlete to represent their country at the Olympics, and I want to make sure I am fully fit and ready before making the final decision to step on court. The aim is not only to participate, but to win a medal for my country.”

So far this season Hurkacz has won 34 out of 48 matches played on the Tour. He won the Estoril Open in April and was runner-up to Jannik Sinner in Halle. 

The Olympic tennis event is scheduled to begin a week Saturday on July 27th. Poland is yet to win a medal in the event but expectations are high with women’s No.1 Iga Swiatek also taking part. 

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Motivation, Pressure And Expectations – Novak Djokovic Targets History At Wimbledon

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image via x.com/wimbledon

Novak Djokovic has broken numerous records throughout his career but he still feels the pressure of trying to make history in the sport. 

The world No.2 is through to his 10th Wimbledon final where he will play Carlos Alcaraz, who beat him at this stage of the tournament 12 months ago. There is plenty on the line for the Serbian who could equal Roger Federer’s record for most men’s titles won at SW19 and break the overall record for most major singles won in the sport if he triumphs over the Spaniard. Djokovic currently has 24 Grand Slam trophies to his name which is the same as Margaret Court, who won some of her titles before the Open Era started. 

“Obviously I’m aware that Roger [Federer] holds eight Wimbledons. I hold seven. History is on the line.” Djokovic said on Friday after beating Lorenzo Musetti.

“Also, the 25th potential Grand Slam. Of course, it serves as a great motivation, but at the same time it’s also a lot of pressure and expectations.”

Coming into Wimbledon, there had been doubts over Djokovic’s form after he underwent surgery to treat a knee injury he suffered at the French Open. However, he has defied the odds to reach the final. His run has also seen him beat Alexi Popyrin and Holger Rune before getting a walkover in the quarter-finals from Alex de Minaur, who sustained an injury during the tournament. Then on Friday, he overcame a spirited Musetti in three sets. 

Despite the challenge, Djokovic has insisted that his expectations to do well are always high no matter what the situation is. During what has been a roller-coaster first six months of the season, he is yet to win a title this year or beat a player currently ranked in the top 10. Although he will achieve both of these if her beats Alcaraz on Sunday. 

“Every time I step out on the court now, even though I’m 37 and competing with the 21-year-olds, I still expect myself to win most of the matches, and people expect me to win, whatever, 99% of the matches that I play.” He said.

“I always have to come out on the court and perform my best in order to still be at the level with Carlos [Alcaraz] or Jannik [Sinner] or Sascha [Zverev] or any of those guys, Daniil [Medvedev]. 

“This year hasn’t been that successful for me. It’s probably the weakest results the first six months I’ve had in many years. That’s okay. I had to adapt and accept that and really try to find also way out from the injury that I had and kind of regroup.”

Djokovic hopes that a Wimbledon win will help turn his season around like it has done in the past for him. 

“Wimbledon historically there’s been seasons where I wasn’t maybe playing at a desired level, but then I would win a Wimbledon title and then things would change.” He commented.

“For example, that was the case in 2018 when I had elbow surgery earlier in the year, dropped my rankings out of top 20, losing in fourth round of Australian Open, I think it was quarters of Roland-Garros, and just not playing the tennis that I want to play. Then I won Wimbledon and then won US Open and then later on became No.1 very soon.”

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Alcaraz is hoping to stop Djokovic in his tracks. Should he defend his title at Wimbledon, he would become the first player outside the Big Three to do so since Pete Sampras more than 20 years ago. He has won their only previous meeting on the grass but trails their head-to-head 3-2. 

“I’m sure he knows what he has to do to beat me,” said Alcaraz.

“But I’m ready to take that challenge and I’m ready to do it well.”

When the two players take to the court to play in the Wimbledon final, Djokovic will be 15 years and 348 days older than Alcaraz. Making it the largest age gap in a men’s Grand Slam final since the 1974 US Open. Whoever is victorious will receive £2,700,000 in prize money. 

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