Hubert Hurkacz follows Swiatek as Poland’s United Cup stars both lose coaches

Wednesday, 25 March 2026 at 01:30

Hubert Hurkacz was eliminated in the third round and reaches No. 68 del ATP Ranking.

Former World No. 6 Hubert Hurkacz has announced his split from coach Nicolas Massu after 15 months working together, in what marks a second high-profile coaching change for Polish tennis in recent days following Iga Swiatek’s separation from Wim Fissette. The Polish player has endured a challenging past year, marked by injuries, and since returning to the tour his results have fallen short of expectations.

The timing is notable given Poland’s recent success at the United Cup, where both Hurkacz and Swiatek played central roles in securing the title at the start of the season. Just months after that triumph, both now find themselves without their respective coaches, underlining a sudden shift behind the scenes for the country’s leading players.

Hurkacz had previously spent a long period working with Craig Boynton between 2019 and the end of 2024. After a disappointing early exit at the US Open, he decided to end that five-year collaboration. Toward the end of the season, Hurkacz confirmed that Massu would become his new coach for 2025, with Ivan Lendl also joining the team as an advisor.

The Chilean coach arrived following a successful partnership with Dominic Thiem, helping guide him to a career-high ranking inside the top three, his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells, and his only Grand Slam title at the US Open. Massu’s appointment was seen as a step aimed at taking Hurkacz’s career forward and turning him into a consistent contender at the biggest events.

Injuries and poor results halt momentum

However, injuries have been a constant issue over the past year for the Pole, who even underwent surgery and missed a significant part of the 2025 season. Hurkacz decided to continue working with Massu into 2026, and the pair started the season strongly, showing a good level at the United Cup, where the 28-year-old produced several notable performances.

Poland went on to win the United Cup title, with Hurkacz playing a key role. He posted a 4–1 record in the tournament, including two top-10 victories over Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz — an impressive return for a player who had not competed since June 2025.

During that United Cup campaign, Massu and Wim Fissette — former coach of Iga Swiatek — were both part of the Polish setup. The two were also present together this week in Miami at an event discussing their roles as coaches, and, notably, both ended their partnerships with their Polish players in the same week.

Since then, however, results have declined sharply. After being eliminated in the opening round of the Australian Open by Ethan Quinn, Hurkacz has gone on a run of seven consecutive defeats.

The Sunshine Double proved particularly difficult, with straight-sets losses to Aleksandar Kovacevic (No. 72), Mattia Bellucci (No. 94) and Ethan Quinn (No. 56). Across the first three months of the season, he has won just two sets in his last seven tournaments.

Hurkacz sends message to Massu after split

The former World No. 6 will now look to reset during the clay swing, with scheduled appearances at the Monte Carlo Masters in two weeks and Munich shortly after. These will be his first confirmed tournaments since the split, with no indication yet of who will join his coaching team moving forward.

Despite the decision, Hurkacz shared a message of appreciation for Massu, highlighting the work done together during a particularly demanding period in his career. “I am very grateful to Nico for all the dedication, hard work and time we spent together during the most challenging times in my career. We have decided to move on, and go our separate ways. Thank you again for everything!”

Massu, alongside his work with Hurkacz, has also coached sisters Linda and Brenda Fruhvirtova for a brief period, in addition to his long-standing role as captain of the Chilean Davis Cup team. It remains to be seen whether the Olympic gold medallist from Athens 2004 will take on a new role on the ATP or WTA Tour in the near future.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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