ATP Masters Paris-Bercy: Hubert Hurkacz in the semifinals - and at the ATP Finals!
Hubert Hurkacz kept his nerve in his quarter-final duel with the Australian James Duckworth and solved his semi-final ticket at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris-Bercy in three sets. With this, the Pole also fixed his start at the Nitto ATP Finals.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Nov 05, 2021, 04:28 pm
During the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris-Bercy, one race has been the focus so far: that after the last remaining starting places for the Nitto ATP Finals, which will take place from November 14th to 21st as the last highlight of the season Are on the program for 2021. Two places for the prestigious tournament, which will be held in Turin for the first time this year, were still up for grabs. The first of these was secured by Casper Ruud at the beginning of the week after Cameron Norrie surprisingly failed to Taylor Fritz.
Now the last starting place for Turin has been taken, Hubert Hurkacz is allowed to extend his season planning after his hard-fought quarter-final victory over the Australian James Durckworth. The Pole starts for the first time in the final of the eight best players of the calendar year. Against Duckworth, Hurkacz managed an early break in the first set in Paris-Bercy, followed up with another later and fixed the set win after almost exactly half an hour with 6.2.
Hurkacz keeps his nerve
Pass two was initially more balanced, Duckworth was able to hold the first three service games of the set. The Australian should even break a break in the middle of the set, but Hurkacz knew how to equalize it immediately. The trend that Duckworth was getting better and better into the match didn't change much: The Australian managed to equalize in the tie-break.
In the decision set, it smelled like another short decision, when Hurkacz, with a score of 6: 5, started again to create a decisive break. With a fine backhand praise, the Pole finally completed match point number three and thus bought his semi-final ticket. This means that Hurkacz can also serve at the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time in his career.