Hubert Hurkacz made history on Wednesday night at the ATP 500 tournament in Rotterdam, breaking through barriers to reach the quarterfinals for the first time by defeating Jiri Lehecka, who was forced to retire due to injury.
The match, held at the Ahoy Arena, started around 11 PM local time and showcased both players' exceptional skills initially as they exchanged winning serves. Hurkacz, ranked 21st globally, faced off against the 24th-ranked Lehecka, and the competition between these two rising stars gave fans something to cheer about.
Hurkacz began his Rotterdam campaign on strong footing, securing victory against Flavio Cobolli with ease by winning the first round 6-3, 6-2. He approached his match with Lehecka hoping to surpass his previous four attempts, which all ended before the quarterfinals.
Lehecka started the match impressively, showcasing the form he showed earlier this season after clinching the title at the Brisbane 250 event and reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open. The two players had previously met only once before, last year during the same tournament, which ended with Hurkacz narrowly winning after three sets.
Fast forward to their rematch, and both players began the first set maintaining their serves until the score reached 5-5. It was then Hurkacz capitalized on the pressure, breaking Lehecka's serve, who struggled with four break points during the sixth game, only for Hurkacz to fend him off successfully. Hurkacz sealed the first set 7-5 with little resistance.
Before the second set commenced, Lehecka called for medical assistance, indicating he was dealing with physical discomfort. Despite this, he initially returned to the court. Yet, Hurkacz quickly noticed his opponent's declining mobility. It became evident as Hurkacz broke Lehecka right away and took the lead 2-0. This prompted Lehecka to make the tough decision to retire, effectively awarding victory to Hurkacz at 7-5, 2-0.
This match marked the culmination of Hurkacz's long-awaited success, finally reaching the coveted quarterfinal stage after several disappointing outings. For Hurkacz, this achievement propels him onto the next challenge as he now prepares to face either Andrey Rublev or Fabian Marozsan.
“After several early exits, I’m relieved to finally make it to the quarterfinals,” said Hurkacz. “It’s always tough facing someone like Lehecka who is on the rise, but I’m just pleased with how I handled the conditions tonight.”
The next match is anticipated to be another significant test for Hurkacz as he looks to continue making strides forward, with fans cheering him on at the tournament. With the victory over Lehecka, hopes are high for more milestones to be achieved by the Polish tennis star.