Polish tennis player Hubert Hurkacz made a surprising exit from the ATP Cincinnati quarterfinals, retiring after losing the first set 3-6 to Frances Tiafoe.
The sudden withdrawal left fans and commentators puzzled, as Hurkacz had shown no clear signs of injury during the match. Despite a tough journey to the quarterfinals, which included hard-fought victories over Yoshihito Nishioka and Flavio Cobolli, Hurkacz could not overcome the challenge posed by the higher-seeded Tiafoe.
The match itself was marked by disruptions, including a rain delay and a brief interruption after the first game. Tiafoe capitalized on Hurkacz’s serving struggles, breaking him twice to claim the first set. Moments after, Hurkacz announced he could not continue, leaving the reasons behind his decision unclear.
🇺🇸@FTiafoe advances to the #CincyTennis semi-final as Hurkacz is forced to retire due to injury.
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 18, 2024
Wishing @HubertHurkacz a speedy recovery 💪 pic.twitter.com/p1iL7GNp2n
As Tiafoe moves on to the semifinals, he will face Holger Rune.