EXCLUSIVE: Hubert Hurkacz Talks About His 2022 Goals, Facing Roger Federer in Wimbledon, and Comparison With Andy Murray

To withstand the intense competition that’s arising from the next-gen stars on the ATP tour at the moment is no small feat. While the likes of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic continue to defy expectations by clinching important titles including Grand Slams, the youngsters are making sure that these stalwarts earn their victories. One such talented next-gen star who rose to the top of the ATP rankings is Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz.

Hurkacz, who was in search of a breakthrough season since 2019, got his due last year. The Polish sensation won the Miami Masters after defeating the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas, Denis Shapovalov, Milos Raonic, Andrey Rublev, and Jannik Sinner. Hurkacz backed up this sensational performance by reaching the semi-finals of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships.

In every way, Hurkacz’s run at SW19 last year would be iconic as he overpowered Swiss Maestro Roger Federer in the quarters. Having to play against the crowd, the Pole showed absolute grit and didn’t give Federer any rhythm to showcase his aggressive gameplay. In the end, it became a smooth ride for Hubert as he bageled the Swiss star in the third set and registered his best result at a major.

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The Polish star also had a dream debut at the ATP World Tour Finals in Turin. With each passing year, Hurkacz is raising his level as he aims to make a memorable season out of the men’s tour this year. Before traveling to the US to play Indian Wells and Miami, Hubert Hurkacz sat down with EssentiallySports’ tennis journalist Mahalakshmi Murali to discuss his future goals amongst various other topics.

Last week, you played some tough matches in Dubai and yes, of course, we can’t forget your match against (Andrey) Rublev. Presently, have you taken a mini-break from tennis or are you preparing for the American Double Sunshine?

Well, now, currently preparing so, you know, practicing, trying to improve, doing some fitness, and then spending some time on the tennis courts. So definitely doing that for to be as well prepared as I can for the coming tournaments, for Indian Wells and Miami.

Where are you presently?

Presently, I’m in Monaco. So two more days here and then flying out to the US.

You had a pretty incredible 2021 season wherein you picked up the title in Miami. Later, you went on to the semi-finals of Wimbledon, your top 10 debut came in and you earned a ticket for the year-end World Tour Championships in Turin. So, many congratulations to you on that. Are you looking forward to defending your big title in Florida this month?

Yeah, I mean, definitely, though, it’s gonna be a new experience for me. So definitely say it’s, I mean, I love, I enjoy Miami so much and played very well there last year. So hopefully, you know, I can play some good tennis and just say, you know, just try to play as good as I can, and then we will see, hopefully with the help of a couple of matches there to get a chance to go really deep in the tournament.

You enjoy playing in Miami a lot. If I’m not wrong, you spend a lot of time in Florida; I suppose. During the pandemic, you were there in Saddlebrook Academy. Does Miami court give you a home ground feeling since you have trained and spent a lot of time there?

Yeah, I mean, a little bit. Definitely. I mean, I spent so much time in Florida, especially during 2019. So, I was like there like for five months, five straight months. So, I mean, definitely get used to the weather and and yeah, enjoy being there. And, I was playing well last year in Florida. So, definitely enjoy that.

I suppose the upcoming month of tennis is one of your favorite swings to play?

Yeah, I mean, I enjoy very much Indian Wells. There is always great atmosphere. It’s super beautiful out there. And, you know, just the atmosphere around this tournament. Plus, there’s a couple of Polish friends right there who prepare dinner for all the Polish players. So, will enjoy the company of super nice people.

That’s exciting to know you enjoy playing in the United States. Coming back to your Grand Slam performance last year, you had an incredible run at Wimbledon. You had a two-day long match against the present world number one Daniil Medvedev. How was your experience reaching the semifinals of a Grand Slam in one of the grandest stages of tennis?

Yeah, that was definitely a fun week. I mean, I didn’t have that many wins for like, for a few months. So, definitely, it was super, super happy that I was able to win couple of matches, then obviously played a really good match against Daniil and had a chance to play against Roger in Wimbledon quarter-finals. So, that was super big for me. Especially, you know, hearing the crowd, being so loud, you know, the atmosphere, if you don’t experience it, it’s really tough to explain it because it’s just really insane how amazing the crowd is there.

Since you talked about your quarterfinal match, I definitely have to ask you this question. After playing a long match against Daniil (Medvedev), you came back to the Center Court on the very next day. You’re playing against the crowd favorite, the eight-time champion and the King of Grass, Roger Federer. Needless to say, like you defeated him in straight sets. How surreal was it? How did it feel after defeating the God of Tennis?

I mean, definitely, a very, very, very big moment for me. I mean, just playing Roger there at Wimbledon and playing a really, really good match was something special, and then that I was able to win, it just makes it way more enjoyable than just just experiencing the match (and) not having an opportunity to play in the next round. So, yeah, so definitely, that was just, you know, so much fun to play with Roger.

While growing up, I believe you were a die-hard Federer fan. You were interested in various sports such as basketball and motorsports, but you were pulled into professional tennis all because of Roger Federer. How did it feel like defeating him on his own backyard wherein he’s celebrated and he’s one of the most decorated athletes of the sport?

Yeah, I mean, definitely winning against him, it’s something special, and Grass, in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam, that makes it even more special. I mean, he is just such a nice person and a great guide, super relaxed, and definitely inspiring what he has achieved throughout his career and the person he is.

After playing Roger at Wimbledon, you have also played Novak (Djokovic) on the Grand Slam stage multiple times. Do you think now you can handle the pressure of playing the Big-3 on the big courts of tennis?

I think so. I hope so. No, definitely. You know, just getting the experience just playing on the tour, playing against the top guys, just every single extra time you play with them. You gain that extra confidence and especially when you win against them, that gives you that extra belief and just confidence in yourself.

You have also played Andy Murray, who is like a former three-time Grand Slam champion. People in the tennis world, they draw a lot of comparisons between your game and his game. Your forehands and backhands, your movement, and everything is syncing together. What do you think about the parallels between you and Andy?

I heard this thing from the friends that they asked Andy about that. I’m still, obviously, he’s not as aggressive as I am. So, my style is a little bit different but you know, I mean, definitely, Andy is one of the greats and just also great, guy, great person. So, it’s nice to be compared to such a nice person.

You went to the ATP Cup; you represented Poland; you were there in the semi-finals. It was lovely watching you play there. After that, you were playing the Australian Open. Were you a bit disappointed with your second-round loss at the tournament and were you expecting to make a deep run in Melbourne?

Yeah, definitely disappointed. I mean, disappointed that I didn’t give myself a chance to play with a fight. You know that hurts a bit, but anyway, you get your chances next time and you just try to learn as much as you can from it and you know, it’s not a fun experience. But, definitely, like, take everything just try to come better next time and just improve in certain aspects that maybe didn’t work out the way we’ve done before.

What was the most challenging part of the matches at the Australian Open this year?

Maybe didn’t get the ideal preparation before the season. Things didn’t go the way we planned, plus we didn’t have that much time for the preparation. That definitely, you know, played a little bit of role there but, you know, it’s different experience having not as much time as maybe you like to spend on the practice court, but you just always try to strike that up and then next year, we’ll try to be better.

There was a huge fiasco which was created during the Australian Open regarding Novak Djokovic’s inclusion in the tournament. What do you really think about the entire controversy that happened?

Very sad, you know. But that’s, you know, like, he was, they allowed him to come to the country and, then when he came, he started to have these massive problems. So obviously, that’s, that was a very, very tough situation for him. I mean, so definitely, if he wasn’t, you know, if he knew before that if he wouldn’t, he wouldn’t risk it. So definitely, that’s a very, very tough and difficult situation.

Last month, the tennis community once again witnessed history being made at Australian Open. We saw Rafael Nadal pulling off a second Australian Open title and his record-breaking 21st Grand Slam by defeating Daniil Medvedev in an epic final. Despite the absence of Novak, Nadal managed to add another grand slam to the Big-3’s account. What will it take for the next generation of tennis players and youngsters like you to break the stranglehold of the Big-3?

Daniil was able to beat Novak in the finals of the US Open and you know, I think, it’s coming, it’s around the corner. I think every one of us being in close, close to the top-10, is trying to improve their game and they’re working so hard. I think it’s getting getting very, very, very close to being able to play very close matches with the top guys themselves. So, I think it’s moving in that direction.

Last year, as you earned the ticket for the ATP finals in Turin, how was your reaction when you learned about competing against the top seven men of the world?

Since playing in Toronto, I knew I was gonna able to give everything to give myself a chance to compete in Torino. I’m into the last tournament of the season in Paris. So, that was a lot of pressure, to get closer to that to the Finals, and then finally, at the end, I was able to actually qualify in Paris. So, it was super happy about the way, you know, ended up for me at the end.

What went wrong in Turin? Were the courts faster, or the conditions didn’t suit you? Were you exhausted or the tennis from your opponents was peaking? What really went wrong there?

I mean, definitely, I was exhausted there. But I was trying, absolutely, everyone in my team was trying their absolute best to get ready for it and be as precious as possible. Yet, it’s just at the end it didn’t work out the way we planned. Unfortunately, it happens like this. But, the experience being in Turin amazing, and definitely want to make it there every single year.

When you spoke to us last time, which was during May 2020, you told us that your ultimate goal was to enter the top-10 rankings. Now that you have made it to the top-10, congratulations to you on that. What are your goals for the 2022 season?

Definitely would be nice to be in the top five. So, that would be amazing. But, you know, you just need to improve a couple of things and learn some more things to be able to get there and just try my best week in week out.

Apart from tennis, there is lot of things happening around the world and the situation right now is very dicey. Your home country of Poland is in close vicinity to the Ukrainian and the Russian border. How do you feel about the havoc created by this conflict and also about your compatriot Iga Swiatek’s emotional post regarding the same?

I’m definitely very sad. In this time, that things like this, it’s just been super sad for the people in Ukraine and [I] just wish that this situation can end as soon as possible. Hopefully, we will never ever [see], things like this throughout, I mean in everyone’s lifespan. This is so sad that things like this are happening.

Hubert, best of luck for your American Double Sunshine this month. We all will be rooting for you for your title defense at Miami. We hope that you have a wonderful 2022 season. Before we wrap up, do you have any message for your fans all around the world during these uncertain times?

Definitely, I wish them all the best and hopefully they’re doing good there, in good place, they’re safe. [I] just wish everyone all the best. Yeah, hopefully, they’re enjoying their life, they’re doing what they love to do out there. All the good things.

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