Hurkacz Leads Rublev, Closes In On Miami Final Berth
Playing in his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, 26th seed Hubert Hurkacz took a big step on the way to the championship match at the Miami Open presented by Itau after winning the opening set against fourth seed Andrey Rublev 6-3 in emphatic style.
The fast-rising Pole has been looking right at home on the courts in Florida, where he lives and trains part-time – and where he began the season with a run to his second ATP Tour trophy at the Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com. A victory on Friday would make it nine matches victories in a row this year in Florida for Hurkacz.
Hurkacz is halfway to doubling his ATP Head2Head lead against Rublev, having claimed victory in their only previous encounter last year at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome. He made a rapid start on Grandstand, where he quickly broke the Rublev serve to take a 3-0 lead.
Coming into their semi-final clash, fourth seed Rublev had only dropped serve twice in the entire tournament – both times came at the hands of Sebastian Korda in the previous round – and had yet to drop a set. From 1-5 down, the Russian saved five set points across three games to narrow the gap, but Hurkacz sealed the set after 40 minutes.
[WATCH LIVE 1]Jannik Sinner, the 21st seed, awaits the winner in the championship match. The 19-year-old Italian is also into his maiden ATP Masters 1000 final after defeating Roberto Bautista Agut 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. Sinner is looking to seal a breakthrough week by becoming the youngest champion in tournament history.