Estoril Open: Hurkacz overcomes Garin challenge to reach the final

Hubert Hurkacz defeated Cristian Garin 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to reach his first clay-court final of the season at the Estoril Open.

A single break of serve was enough for the Pole in the first set, breaking in the second game and holding serve to earn a one-set lead.

But Garin, an accomplished clay-court player and always a challenge on this surface, hit back in the second set. Again, just one break was enough to seal the set and again it came in the second game.

Hurkacz then gained the early advantage in the decider, navigating his way to a 5-1 lead and serving for the match.

The Pole was pegged back, however, as Garin broke then held to up the pressure on Hurkacz as he served for the match for a second time.

But the world No 10 made no mistake the second time around, confidently serving out the win against a tricky opponent to earn his first clay-court final of the season.

Hurkacz, ranked No 10, will face the winner of the match between Norwegian Casper Ruud, the top seed, and Spaniard Pedro Martinez next.

The Pole beat qualifier Jan Choinski (7-6 (5), 6-4) and Spanish qualifier Pablo Llamas Ruiz (7-6 (4), 6-4) in the previous rounds of the Estoril tournament.

Earlier in the tournament, Garin, ranked No 112, won against Austrian Jurij Rodionov (7-6 (3), 7-5), Frenchman Arthur Fils, the No 5 seed (2-6, 6-4, 6-4) and Portuguese Nuno Borges (6-2, 7-6 (3)).

Estoril ATP 250, other semi-final result (Clube de Ténis do Estoril, clay, EUR 579.320):

• Casper Ruud vs. Pedro Martinez