In a gripping opening match at the ATP Tokyo tournament, Hubert Hurkacz faced off against Chinese opponent Zhizhen Zhang in a thrilling contest. Zhang emerged victorious in a tie-breaker, securing a 1-2 victory (6-3, 4-6, 6-7).
The match began with Zhang taking an early lead. However, Hurkacz, ranked 11th in the ATP rankings, made a crucial breakthrough at 3-3, showing his skill and determination. The first set concluded with a commanding 6-3 victory for the Polish player.
The second set witnessed a dramatic role reversal. Hurkacz took the initiative, leading 3-1, but Zhang won three consecutive games, turning the score to 4-3. The third set was marked by both players’ composure and strong service games.
The tie-breaker was the ultimate decider. Despite a shaky start, Hurkacz made a stunning comeback, but a disputed call by the referee resulted in Zhang’s 6-4 victory, avenging a prior defeat.
Hubert Hurkacz – Zhizhen Zhang 1-2 (6-3, 4-6, 6-7)