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Polish tennis sensation Hubert Hurkacz secured his spot in the second round of the ATP 1000 tournament in Cincinnati after a grueling three-hour match against Australian qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis. Hurkacz triumphed 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 7-6 (7-1) in a roller-coaster encounter, characterized by nail-biting tie-breaks.
In an intense showdown, Hurkacz displayed resilience in the tie-breakers of the first and third sets, despite missing all eight of his break point opportunities against the 78th-ranked Kokkinakis. The match marked their third meeting, with their previous clash in Miami lasting over three and a half hours and going the distance with three tie-breaks.
🇵🇱 Kolejny emocjonujący mecz z Thanasim Kokkinakisem zakończony zwycięstwem Huberta Hurkacza! Polak pokonał Australijczyka 7:6(2), 3:6, 7:6(1) i awansował do drugiej rundy ATP Masters 1000 w Cincinnati, gdzie zagra z Borną Coriciem.
— Z kortu – informacje tenisowe | Tennis news (@z_kortu) August 15, 2023
🇬🇧 Another emotional match! Hubert Hurkacz… pic.twitter.com/C9l46Xym6y
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for the 26-year-old from Wrocław, as he faces defending champion Borna Corić in the next round. Corić, seeded 15th, holds a 3-1 advantage over Hurkacz in their head-to-head battles. The Croatian triumphed in their recent encounters on clay in Madrid, as well as on indoor courts in Vienna last season and on the clay of Monte Carlo in 2019.
Despite the challenge, Hurkacz’s prowess and determination are on full display. Tennis enthusiasts eagerly await another enthralling match as the Polish star seeks to reverse the tide against his resilient opponent.