Hubert Hurkacz backed up his Miami 2021 triumph by sealing Shanghai Masters on Sunday afternoon for a second ATP 1000 win seeing off Andrey Rublev.
It was a dramatic 6-3 3-6 7-6 win for the Pole who joins Iga Swiatek in recent 1000 tournament success flying the flag for his country with a seventh career title and now moves to within points of the top 10.
One famous face watching on was a certain Roger Federer and Hurkacz said he was pleased to see him and hopes he enjoyed the show.
“It’s really cool. Seeing Roger in the stands, hopefully he enjoyed the match a bit as well. He had so much success, winning here a couple of times. Such a big tournament with a lot of tradition over the years. Just really happy today," said Hurkacz.
When also asked in post match press about it being the most dramatic final ever in an ATP Masters 1000, he believed it is after both had chances to win in the tiebreak in the third pushing each other truly to the limit.
“I would say yes, I think so. It is a Masters 1000 final in which we both had championship points in the tiebreak of the third set. We were there, battling, trying to take advantage of the opportunities, so it was really exciting. After winning the last point I was elated to have come out the winner of this battle. In those match points against me I was just telling myself what I had to do on the next point. I was focusing on where to play, on staying committed & trusting my shots.. fighting & battling until the end.”
Hurkacz after winning 2nd Masters title in Shanghai “This tournament has been won by some of the greatest of our sport. Djokovic, Federer, Murray. How cool is it to be part of that list?” Hubi: “It’s really cool. Seeing Roger in the stands, hopefully he enjoyed the match a bit…
