Hubert Hurkacz started this edition of the Italian Open from the second round. His opponent was American J.J. Wolf, who found a way to beat him 2:0 (6:3, 6:4). Magda Linette, on the other hand, did not envisage Saturday’s match in this way either. The Pole lost to Beatriz Haddad Maia 5:7, 4:6.
Jeffrey John Wolf defeats Hubert Hurkacz in Rome
Saturday’s encounter started with an even start to the contest. Playing “to a draw” ended with the eighth game. Wolf finally broke the Pole after a long battle (5:3). Although the Cincinnati tennis player “scored” a double service error along the way, he still defended his serve and won against Hurkacz (6:3).
It was clear that the defeat in the first game had made an impression on Hubert Hurkacz. The player became more easily frustrated and was quickly broken. Already in the first game of the second set of the duel. Hurkacz had a chance to make up ground in the sixth game but failed to capitalise on the opportunity, allowing Wolf to gain the upper hand and take a 4:2 lead. Although Hurkacz won the next game, the American held on to his serve and had less and less trouble maintaining his lead. Despite double service errors, Wolf won 5:3 and eventually the entire match 6:4, advancing to the third round.
Hubert Hurkacz – Jeffrey John Wolf 0-2 (3-6, 4-6)
Linette suffers defeat to Haddad Maia in a two-set match
The match did not go the Pole’s way from the start. Linette won the first game, but the Brazilian broke on her second service break. The Brazilian was much more aggressive and caused Linette a lot of trouble. The Pole handled the difficult moments and led to a breakthrough, but the Brazilian showed her class and won the set 7:5.
The second set started much worse. In the blink of an eye, the Pole was losing 0:4. Linette put all her anger on the court and turned up the tempo. Haddad Maia was completely out of her rhythm and before she knew it, the scoreboard was already 4:3. Linette, however, had no mercy on her and skilfully swept her around the court. It quickly became 5:4, but it was Haddad Maia who kept her cool in the end and won 6:4.
Magda Linette – Beatriz Haddad Maia 0-2 (5-7, 4-6)