Hurkacz wins Halle title, trounces Medvedev

Hubert Hurkacz put in one of the most impressive performances of his career as he crushed the world No 1

Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in action during his final match against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev (AI/Reuters/Panoramic)

June 19, 2022

Hubert Hurkacz is the new Halle champion, beating world No 1 Daniil Medvedev in a thorough trouncing, 6-1, 6-4, and needing only one hour and two minutes to do so.

The 25-year-old is now the seventh man in the Open Era to win his first five tour-level finals.

Hurkacz broke the Medvedev serve twice at the start of the first set to move to a 5-0 lead.

And the Pole continued in the same vein for the second set, breaking in the first game – at which point Medvedev’s coach Gilles Cervara picked up his bag and left the stands – and serving incredibly well.

Hurkacz was typically understated when interviewed after the match, paying tribute to his opponent: “Daniil is an unbelievable player, he’s the best player in the world. It’s very tricky to play him and all the shots went my way at the beginning.

“I’m super excited. I’ve been waiting a little bit for the first win this year, and happy to win my first 500 title, and obviously on the grass it’s very special.”

Medvedev has now lost his last five finals – stretching back to last year’s Paris Masters, the ATP World Tour final, then this year’s Australian Open, and in ‘s-Hertogenbosch last week.