Hurkacz's aces stop a great talent

No, that wasn't Hubert Hurkacz's best match of the season. The fifth seed from Wroclaw had an unexpectedly difficult time in the first round of the tournament, which he has already won once. However, it was enough to beat the up-and-coming Italian Flavio Cobolli 7:5, 7:6(2) and advance to the round of 16.

Firstly, Hubert Hurkacz did what he is feared for: he served through. He hit six aces in his first three service games. Given his overpowering serve, it is almost surprising that the Pole has only won one tournament on grass. That was the TERRA WORTMANN OPEN in 2022.

When he then added a break in the sixth game, the first set seemed to be a quick affair. But the young Italian on the other side held on and Hurkacz's service motor suddenly stalled. Cobolli managed the re-break.  The 22-year-old outsider fended off a set point in the tenth game.  He managed to do so several more times in the twelfth game, but then the time had come: Hurkacz advanced and scored at the net to make it 7:5.

But the world number 49 refused to be shaken off and kept at it. And why not, as he had almost beaten Casper Ruud, a top ten player, in the semi-finals in Geneva just a few weeks ago. On that occasion, he lost in a third-set tie-break. In Halle, it was mainly his stops that caused his opponent headaches. A fast approach is even more difficult on grass than on other surfaces. But at least Hurkacz's ace engine started up again. He ended up with a strong total of 19 in just two sets.

Cobolli then came under pressure at 5:6 and faced a match point. But he fended it off, even though Hurkacz tried a Becker pike. The crowd cheered on the underdog, celebrating every direct point Cobolli scored. The tie-break had to decide the match. And it did, and quickly. Hurkacz managed an early mini-break and then added two aces. A little later another - four match points for him. And the Pole naturally ended the match with an ace.

"The first match on grass is always difficult, the changeover isn't easy. I'm glad I got through in two sets," said the 2022 champion.