Hubert Hurkacz had the last word. The Pole, 17th in the world, won the second Masters 1000 of his career on Sunday in Shanghai, at the expense of Russian Andrey Rublev (7th), at the end of suspense and a particularly thrilling tie-break.
In three sets 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (10/8) and more than two hours of play, the Pole offered himself, under the eyes of the legend Roger Federer, the number 5 seed, and reissued his performance from Miami in 2021, where he beat the Italian Jannik Sinner in the final. At 26, this is his 7th title.
From the start of this fifth face-to-face, Hurkacz put the Russian under pressure and set the tone with a first break, to lead 4-2 then pocket the set 6-3. Andrey Rublev, very nervous again, increased his cries of anger. But the 25-year-old, who was also aiming for a second Masters 1000 title after that of Monte-Carlo in the spring, still managed to raise his level of play, equalizing at one set all.
In the decisive set, tense and exciting, Rublev saved a first match point at 4-5. The tie-break was even more unbearable, Hurkacz in turn saving a first tournament point for the Russian, at 6 points to 5. The Pole ended up concluding on his fifth attempt, at 9-8.
“It was a real battle, especially emotionally,” Hurkacz said. Andrey was playing very good shots. I was trying to respond,” he added.
After this title, Hubert Hurkacz will climb to 11th place in the ATP rankings while his opponent of the day will find little consolation by reaching the Top 5 on Monday.
The Shanghai tournament was back on the calendar this year after its suspension linked to the affair of Peng Shuai, former world No.1 in doubles who had disappeared from the public scene for weeks at the end of 2021 after accusing the former Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault. This suspension was, however, symbolic, the tournaments having already been suspended in China due to anti-Covid health measures.
The previous winner, in 2019, was the Russian Daniil Medvedev, current 3rd player in the world.