After just over a month, Hubert Hurkacz (14th ATP) returned to competition. After only 53 minutes, he was eliminated in the first round after a 1:6, 3:6 defeat against American Alex Michelsen (ATP 44). In the second half of the season, Hurkacz is still suffering from an unhealed knee injury he suffered during Wimbledon. Because of this, Hurkacz could forget about participating in the Olympic Games in Paris. “Hurkacz usually does very well in indoor hard tournaments. Today it was clearly visible that since July he has been absent more than he has played” – wrote Agnieszka Niedziałek from Sport.pl.
Since August 30, it has also been known that Hurkacz stopped working with Craig Boynton after five years. “Hubi and I agreed to go our separate ways. I am very grateful for our time together,” Boynton wrote on social media. According to Agnieszka Niedziałek's information, we should soon meet Hurkacz's new coach. Mateusz Terczyński, Hurkacz's previous sparring partner, took over this role temporarily.
The defeat in the ATP 1000 tournament in Paris meant that Hurkacz ended his participation in the 2024 season and, under the leadership of a new coach, he will prepare for the Grand Slam Australian Open at the beginning of the year.
Fibak is worried about Hurkacz. “He was a shadow of himself”
Journal “Fact” talked to Wojciech Fibak after Hurkacz's match. Fibak was very worried after Hurkacz's defeat. – I felt very sad in my heart. After a knee injury, which Hubi probably didn't fully heal, I feared the worst. He was a shadow of his former self in the match against Michelsen. I was worried after Hubert withdrew from the Shanghai and Basel tournaments. In Paris, he was unprepared to face the hope of American tennis, which is in full swing. There is an old truth in tennis that it is not training that makes champions, but winning matches at tournaments – he said.
Fibak also commented on Hurkacz's injury itself. – This is the most unlucky injury that could have happened to him. The most eminent orthopedists in the country were shaking their heads when they saw photos of the knee. Unfortunately, this is the loss of half of the meniscus. Hubert mentioned that eight out of ten specialists believed that the meniscus needed to be reattached and that he would not be able to play for six months. I'm very worried about what will happen to him next. He has had surgery, but I don't know whether the knee arthroscopy procedure helped 100% – added the former tennis player.
Hurkacz ended the 2024 season by winning the ATP 250 tournament in Estoril (6:3, 6:4 against Pedro Martinez), as well as the ATP 500 final in Halle (6:7, 6:7 against Jannik Sinner).
Hurkacz is to take part in the United Cup representative tournament, which will take place at the turn of 2024 and 2025. On December 30, there will be a clash between Hurkacz and Norwegian Casper Ruud (8th ATP) in group B.