It was a victory that gave him a radiant smile. And he actually had every reason to be a happy man at the end of a match, a huge fight, which the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (17th in the world) ended up winning in the tie-break of the third set (6-3, 3-6, 7-6 [8]), after saving a match point with an ace at 5-6 in the deciding game.
On the other hand, Andrey Rublev was totally defeated, damaged everywhere. As always, the Russian gave of himself. He came close to empty space, belched, “rotten” with great rage a photographer, who had the funny idea of moving on a crucial point at 4-5 in the third set and who then offered a first match point to Hurkacz . But Rublev immediately calmed down, saving the ball with an ace, in all apparent peace of mind.
The world No. 7 is definitely a funny character. Talented but still tortured. Opposite, Hurkacz was a hell of a fighter throughout. Because, after a first set where the Pole, the best server of the tournament, ravaged Rublev’s resistance, with large bursts of first balls (18 points out of 20), he often suffered behind the game. When Rublev began to sharpen his eye in return, the appearance of the game has clearly changed. More incisive in the rally, more in control of the game, the Russian, winner of his first career Masters 1000 last spring in Monte-Carlo, then clearly took control of the game and the rally.
Hurkacz still impeccable on serve
But now, “Hubi” Hurkacz has with his service an immense and formidable weapon. It was again with an ace that he dismissed the only break point he had to save, at 1-1, in the last round. Fluid, varied in the areas found, the 17th in the world built a shelter, while Rublev took the hail (11 aces in the 3rd set, 21 in the match).
But the Russian nevertheless remained dominant in the exchange and even granted himself the mini-break with two perfectly timed backhands from the start of the decisive game. However, never completely calm even when things are going well, he gave up his precious and short lead at 5-4, behind a second service ball that was too soft which the Pole bit with relish.
The match was on the line. Hurkacz pulled away like a big man on a final long rally, his backhand caressed the boards and Rublev finally broke with a forehand on the match point. “I don’t know what to say, what a battle!” Andrey has a match point, we both saved some. We had to stay in the match, against a player who has very good shots, to find the answers. It’s one of those matches where you always have to believe in it,” appreciated the Pole, winner under the eyes of a guest star, Roger Federer.
The Turin Masters in sight
Already a winner in Miami in 2021, Hurkacz won his second career Masters 1000 in Shanghai and is quickly approaching the top 8 in the ATP race (11th now) and therefore a place at the Turin Masters (November 12 to 19) . Today he is only 335 points behind Holger Rune (8th in the race), the young Dane who no longer wins a match or almost and is coming out of a week of training with a certain Boris Becker, without anything having yet been officially said about a possible future collaboration.
As for Hurkacz, he confirmed in China that his efficiency was definitely formidable when he reached the final. In Shanghai, the Wroclaw native was playing in his eighth final and he is now at seven career titles.
“Starting these two weeks in Shanghai, I knew that I wanted to give myself a chance, that I had to win tournaments, so it’s a good start. I had an extraordinary week in Shanghai. With my team, we will try to do our best and continue to fight to participate in the Masters in Turin,” confided the Pole.
2023-10-15 23:16:13
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