Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz clash against the formidable Novak Djokovic, at the ATP Finals group stage witnessed a compelling three-set battle that culminated in Djokovic’s victory.
This match marked Hurkacz’s debut and concluding appearance in this year’s ATP Finals. Despite Stefanos Tsitsipas’ earlier defeat to Jannik Sinner and subsequent withdrawal from the match against Holger Rune, Hurkacz entered the arena with much at stake.
The first set mirrored their previous Wimbledon 4th round clash, characterized by an exhibition of exceptional serves. No breakpoints emerged in the opening set, eventually decided in Djokovic’s favour in the tie-break, courtesy of several errors from Hurkacz.
Adapting swiftly, Hurkacz made a strong comeback in the subsequent set. The pivotal moment arrived in the fifth game, as Djokovic faced break points, seized upon by Hurkacz, altering the course of the set. However, typical of his matches, suspense lingered as he defended his serve three games later, eventually balancing the score.
The decider, unfortunately, didn’t unfold in Hurkacz’s favour. A quick loss of serve coupled with an increase in errors allowed Djokovic to seize the opportunity, securing his 255th triumph against a top-10 ATP ranking player after a little over two hours of intense gameplay.
Hubert Hurkacz – Novak Djokovic 1-2 (6-7, 6-4, 1-6)