Hurkacz, the champion who hits the ball with his eyes closed

The Polish Hubert Hurkacz, who defeated Jannik Sinner in the Miami final 7-6 (7/4) and 6-4 to become the first Pole to win a Masters 1,000, he knows every inch of the court by heart … because he closes his eyes when he hits the ball with his racket. “I always have, although I know that opening them could help me. In the future I will try to change, “he said these days in Miami … But perhaps now is not the time after achieving the greatest triumph of his career, in which only the (modest) titles of Winston-Salem 2019 and Delray Beach 2021.

Hurkacz, a discreet guy on court and off, managed to become the lowest ranked tennis player (37th) to win a Masters 1,000. Precisely, before his best friend and partner in doubles. With Sinner, he came from playing two lawsuits ago in Dubai. That makes him come out today in 16th place in the ranking.

Vegan for three years (“It was more from a recommendation than belief, and I feel good, with more energy,” he explains), Hurkacz comes from a family of athletes. His mother, Zofia Maleszewa-Hurkacz, was number one junior in Poland. His uncles also played tennis and his grandfather was a volleyball international. He has been holding the racket since he was five years old and turned pro at 18. Now, it is necessary to see if he is not a flower of a day like his compatriot Jerzy Janowicz, who contested the final of Paris-Bercy to David Ferrer and then languished until he disappeared.