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Video: Hubert Hurkacz Forced to Throw His Racket Into Spectators as He Crashes Out of Stuttgart Open

Published 06/19/2023, 6:15 AM EDT

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via Reuters

After the conclusion of the clay court swing, the focus now shifts to grass as we approach the 3rd major of the season – the Wimbledon Championships. The grass court season is shaping up nicely, with every player vying to add more victories under their belt in order to build momentum before the all-important major in England. The Stuttgart Open was no different. Tennis fans got to witness some amazing performances at the ATP 250 series event. However, the player’s performances were not the only highlight of the tournament. Polish ATP ace Hubert Hurkacz hurling his racket into the crowd during his semifinal encounter also grabbed headlines, as the video went viral.

Twenty-six-year-old Polish star Hubert Hurkacz was up against Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany in the semifinals of the Stuttgart Open.

Hubert Hurkacz tosses racket into the stands, video goes viral

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What garnered a lot of attention from the fans is a video where Hurkacz is seen hurling his racket at the spectators during a point in his match. As the Pole ran towards the side end of the court while trying to return an overhead smash hit by Struff, he slid through the grass and was about to hit the advertisement board. In an attempt to break his fall, Hurkacz threw his racket toward the spectators. This freed his hands and helped him regain his balance.

The highlight reels didn’t end here. Hubert Hurkacz also showed off his skills with the racket as he hit a behind-the-back shot at a certain point in the match. He ended up losing the point, however.

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It was a thoroughly entertaining match, to say the least, but certainly not with the outcome that Hurkacz expected.

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Hubert Hurkacz Imitates Roger Federer as He Achieves a Unique Feat at Miami Open 2022

Hurkacz loses to Struff in semis of Stuttgart Open

The Pole was going for his 7th ATP title at the Stuttgart Open. Currently placed at number 14 in the ATP rankings, Hurkacz was one of the favorites to win the tournament. But surprisingly, the Pole’s run came to an end when Jan-Lennard Struff caused an upset as he got the better of the 4th seed in 3 sets – 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. The almost 3-hour long match brought out the best in both competitors, with the 33-year-old German finally coming out on top. This marks Struff’s second ATP final appearance in the past month, the first being at the Madrid Open in May where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz of Spain.

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Jan-Lennard Struff will look to win his first-ever ATP title in Stuttgart, when he takes on American Frances Tiafoe in the finals.

WATCH THIS STORY: Serena Williams pays tribute to Roger Federer.

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Written by:

Prithviraj Roy

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Prithviraj Roy is a tennis writer at EssentiallySports. With an academic background in Journalism & Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), he has more than 2 years of experience as a Content Writer. Prithviraj has been a die-hard fan of the 'King of Clay' Rafael Nadal since his childhood years.
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Edited by:

Tony Thomas