Hubert Hurkacz became Poland’s first ATP Masters 1000 champion on Sunday after defeated 19-year-old Jannik Sinner 7-6(4), 6-4 in the Miami Masters.
The 24-year-old needed one hour and 45 minutes to clinch the biggest ATP Tour title of his career.
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“I played [some] of the best tennis I’ve ever played,” Hurkacz said in his post-match press conference.
“I was solid throughout the whole tournament, and I was able to get through each round, [and] was even more pumped for the next round. I think that’s something special for me.
Your first kiss usually isn't perfect 😂🏆
🎥: @TennisTV | @HubertHurkacz | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/kbK3utnQpe
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 4, 2021
“My tennis is getting better. We work hard with my coach, [Craig Boynton], and I’m super happy that it happened here. We still need to improve a couple of things and just try to get better each day.”
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His opponent and occasional doubles partner Sinner, the 21st seed, was trying to become the youngest Miami men’s champion in history at 19 years and seven months.
The pair have teamed up to play doubles twice this season – including a quarter-final appearance at last month’s Dubai Open – but on Sunday they faced each other in singles for the first time.
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“Hubi, many congratulations for this week and a half,” said the Italian teenager. “I think you showed what talent you have. I’m more proud what kind of person you are. I have to say [you are] maybe my best friend on Tour. Maybe we should play more doubles together.”
The Pole had beaten second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and the in-form Andrey Rublev en route his first Masters final.
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With the victory, Hurkacz will break into the Top 20 in the FedEx ATP Rankings for the first time, moving from No. 37 to a career-high No. 16 on Monday.
Sinner is also projected to reach a new career-high of his own, rising to No. 23 in the ATP Rankings.
