13
Sinner vs. Hurkacz Perfect Symmetry Rivarly
11 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Jannik Sinner vs Hubert Hurkacz is another one of those rare perfect symmetry rivalries, in which each player alternates in beating the other.
Today they played again at Monte Carlo Rolex Masters round of 16 and Sinner won in three sets 36 76 61 to level their head to head rivalry at 2-2.
Hurkacsz won the previous match 63 63 at 2022 Dubai QF.
Sinner had won the previous clash at 2021 ATP Nitto Finals 62 62 in the round robin.
And of course, Hurkacz won their first clash in the 2021 Miami Open final 76 64.
Whatever Sinner figured out today, in their first match up on a clay court, will surely factor into match no. 5 in the probable near future.
Today Sinner was on the brink of losing to Hurkacz for the third time in the four meetings.
Sinner was down a match point at 5-6 in the secondset tiebreaker but he managed to turn the tables on Hurkacz to win three points in a row to save the match point and clinch the second set before dominating the third set on Court Rainier III. “It was a very tough match,” said Sinner, now 23-5 for the 2023. “Playing against him, I knew already from the beginning that it was very tough to get into the rhythm. I think he served incredible in the first one and a half sets, and when I broke him the first time the momentum changed a little bit. “He also had match point. These kinds of matches can go both ways, I’m happy that it went my way, and happy that I can play at least one more match [here].”
Sinner, age 21, is currently ranked no. 8 in the world while the 26 year old from Poland is ranked 13. The Italian has won seven career ATP titles compared to Hurkacz’s six.
Hubert Hurkacz · Jannik Sinner · Monte Carlo Rolex Masters
Bill McGill · April 13, 2023 at 10:53 am
That Miami Open final was the best Hubi has ever returned serve. Or maybe Sinner was the most predictable server Hubi ever faced. Tough to say.
Scoop Malinowski · April 13, 2023 at 7:23 pm
The battle of the giants rivalry is almost as good as Medvedev vs Zverev which is also a close one now at 8-6 I believe for Med. Zverev once won four in a row, Med has a five match win streak vs Zverev. Good battle of giants.
Matt Segel · April 13, 2023 at 8:09 pm
I really like Sinner, seems so nice.
Real reason for the post though, 37 aces by Struff in a 2 set match… that’s like 3 per game! Must be a record. There were 20 games played and a tie break. I mean 37 aces!!!!
Scoop Malinowski · April 13, 2023 at 10:04 pm
Struff is suddenly playing great again, he manhandled Deminaur who was coming off the blowout vs Murray. Struff is one of the best volleyers in the ATP.
Matt Segel · April 15, 2023 at 8:46 am
I can’t stop thinking about 37 aces, so I looked it up https://www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com/topMatchStats, the old record for aces at Monte Carlo was 22!
3+ aces per game!
Matt Segel · April 15, 2023 at 8:48 am
The old records were three set matches! It may be the greatest serve match in history
Scoop Malinowski · April 16, 2023 at 8:04 pm
Matt, who had 37 aces at Monte Carlo? I didn’t hear this.
Matt Segel · April 17, 2023 at 11:11 am
Earlier, German qualifier Struff upset World No. 4 Casper 6-1, 7-6(8) in one hour and 45 minutes to earn his first Top 10 win since June 2021, when he defeated then-World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev in Lobby.
The 32-year-old thundered down 37 aces and broke the Norwegian’s serve four times to advance to his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final since Cincinnati in 2020.
It’s just weird how tennis doesn’t really count stats like other sports. This was a no hitter, a 70 point game , striking out 20, rushing for 200 yards type of performance, but the ATP doesn’t do anything with it. What is the record for forehand winners on clay in a three set match? Who knows? It would add a dimension.
Scoop Malinowski · April 17, 2023 at 1:43 pm
Matt, isn’t an ace more comparable to a lighting bolt strike than thunder? Not really a stat geek but I see your point. Would be simple to track forehand and backhand winners. But then again overanalyzing can be tedious.
Matt Segel · April 17, 2023 at 2:49 pm
I think at every tournament they have records, so just acknowledging a tournament record was broken would be enough. The ATP is stat crazy about summer stats (youngest, weeks, titles), but because not everyone is the greatest, this would be a way to goodnight some other performances. Not a huge deal, I just could not believe 37 aces in 10 games and a tie break, it’s mind boggling.
Scoop Malinowski · April 17, 2023 at 2:54 pm
Struff is an explosive player, I think his volleys are maybe top 3 in the ATP. Big strong player, a late bloomer, looks like he is going to cause some havoc at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.