(Tennis news) Andy Murray dealt a major blow to Hubert Hurkacz's effort to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals as recorded his first top 10 victory in a year. Hubert will now have to wait longer to secure his place in the season ending event.
After losing to Hurkacz twice this year, the 2014 and 2016 winner in Vienna snapped his losing skid in two hours and 41 minutes. Murray battled hard in the final after failing to convert one match point opportunity at 5/6 in the second-set tie-break. It was his first Top 10 win since August 2020, when he upset Alexander Zverev in the second round of the Western & Southern Open.
"It was a good match that could have gone either way," said Murray. "I was disappointed to drop serve in the opening game of the third, but thankfully I was able to get the break back in the next game and from there I probably deserved to get over the line. It was a good win in tough circumstances.
Hurkacz showed his nerve to save one match point at 5/6 with a backhand winner down the line, then went on to take a 7/6 lead with an unreturned serve in a tight tie-break. When Murray blasted a backhand long, Hurkacz clinched the second set, which lasted 70 minutes.
Murray continued his nine match winning streak in Vienna, and in the second round, he will face NextGen ATP Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. Murray had defeated Alcaraz at the Indian Wells Masters 1000 in the second round.
When Hurkacz over-hit a forehand at 30/40, Murray broke serve on his fourth try at 4-4 in the opening set. With an unreturned serve, the Briton brought the 45-minute opener to an end.
In the third ATP Head 2 Head match between the two, the second set got more explosive, with less rallies. Hurkacz broke Murray's serve in the sixth game of the second set, but he was unable to convert four break points. At 3-3, it was Murray's turn to be disappointed, as he failed to convert with Hurkacz serving at 15/40, and Murray saved one break point in the next game. Murray defeated Hurkacz 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3.
Also read: Matteo Berrettini secures ATP finals berth, Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkacz next in line
