Hubert Hurkacz faces Christopher Eubanks, losing first set
Posted : 21 June 2023
It wasn't an easy start for defending champion Hubert Hurkacz at the Terra Wortmann Open. Despite breaking serve to lead 4-3 in the first set, he faced unexpected challenges from American qualifier Christopher Eubanks.
The second set was a nerve-wracking tie-break, with Eubanks saving four match points and winning it 13-11. Eubanks displayed more variations and success at the net throughout the match.
However, Hurkacz managed to regain control in the third set, swiftly breaking Eubanks' serve and ultimately triumphing 6-4, 6-7 (11), 6-3. It took a total of seven match points and 22 aces for Hurkacz to secure a spot in the round of sixteen.
Last year, he had a remarkable tournament in Halle, defeating top-ranked player Daniil Medvedev in the final and reaching the semifinals by defeating Nick Kyrgios, who went on to reach the Wimbledon final.
In 2023, Hubert Hurkacz remains a strong contender for the final in the Owl Arena, where he has shown his prowess on grass courts. He made a breakthrough in 2021, reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon, and recently reached the semifinals in Stuttgart.
While his current tennis year has been mixed and he has dropped to 17th in the rankings after being in the top ten, his tournament victory in Marseille stands out as a notable achievement this season.
Next, Hurkacz will face Dutch player Tallon Griekspoor, who defeated Roberto Caballes Baena from Spain in the opening round.
Griekspoor should be aware that grass courts favor Hurkacz's game. Notably, Griekspoor himself won the s'Hertogenbosch grass tournament just last Sunday, making him a formidable opponent as well.
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