Strong-serving Hubert Hurkacz survived a thrilling final-set tiebreaker to beat fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (10/8) and win the Shanghai Masters on Sunday.
It was the 16th-seeded Poland’s second Masters triumph, following the one he won in Miami in 2021, and his seventh ATP title overall.
Both players missed match points in a thrilling finish on a warm evening in front of Roger Federer.
HUBERT HURKACZ IS THE SHANGHAI MASTERS CHAMPION! It is Hubi’s second Masters 1000 title after Miami 2021.
What an incredible victory for him. pic.twitter.com/WXFDg32G32
– Relevant Tennis (@RelevantTennis) October 15, 2023
Hurkacz put Rublev under pressure early and broke the Russian with a brutal forehand, meaning Rublev had no chance of regaining a 4-2 lead in the first set.
The 25-year-old Rublev let out an angry roar in response and then Hurkacz easily held his own serve to take a 5-2 lead.
The Pole Hurkacz came into the final as the tournament best with 77 aces and Rublev couldn’t cope with his brilliant serve.
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Hurkacz secured the first set in 31 minutes – and inevitably with another ace.
It was the first sentence Rublev dropped in Shanghai.
But Rublev, who won the Monte Carlo Masters in April, fought back and broke his opponent’s serve torpedo to take a 2-0 lead at the start of the second set.
The rejuvenated Rublev kept the 26-year-old Hurkacz at bay and sent them into the decisive third set.
Rublev on Saturday described his outbursts of anger during his semifinal win over Grigor Dimitrov as “ugly” and he struggled with his emotions again at times.
In contrast, Hurkacz went about his business with quiet determination.
Serving at 4-5 in a thrilling third set, Rublev secured a championship point – after being booed by the crowd moments earlier for aggressively approaching and shouting at courtside photographers.
That sent the duo into a tiebreaker before Hurkacz eventually prevailed.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published via a syndicated news agency feed – AFP).
2023-10-16 01:09:08
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