Jannik Sinner overcomes Hubert Hurkacz to claim first grass title at ATP Halle, Tommy Paul wins Queen's title
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ByOli Gent
Updated 23/06/2024 at 16:10 GMT
Jannik Sinner won his fourth title of 2024 with a straight-sets victory over Hurbert Hurkacz at the Halle Open. Sinner, the world No. 1, claimed a first grass-court crown with a 7-6(8) 7-6(2) win against the Pole in one hour and 50 minutes at the OWL Stadion in North Rhine-Westphalia. Hurkacz, the world No. 9 and fifth seed here, is a previous champion at Halle, winning in 2022.
Highlights: Sinner beats Zhang to book place in Halle Open final
Jannik Sinner claimed a fourth title of 2024 as he beat Hurbert Hurkacz in straight sets at the Halle Open.
The Italian came through the Pole 7-6(8) 7-6(2) in one hour and 50 minutes at the OWL Stadion in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The world No. 1 had made a difficult start to his grass-court season, dropping a set in each of his first three matches at the tournament, but he found his top form when it mattered most to become the eighth player to claim a trophy in his first tournament as the best player on the planet.
Sinner and Hurkacz were level at 2-2 in their head-to-head coming into Sunday’s final.
There was nothing to split the doubles partnership - Sinner and Hurkacz reached the second round in the men's doubles at Halle - when it came to service breaks, with both sets going the distance and being settled by tense tiebreaks.
The first was full of drama, with Hurkacz missing a forehand, and Sinner speeding towards taking first blood with a set point at 6-5.
However, the Italian spurned the opportunity, leaving Hurkacz a point away from taking the opener at 7-6.
That prompted Sinner to step inside the baseline and up his power levels, piling the pressure on the Pole.
That eventually told, with Sinner converting his third set point to take the first.
Hurkacz hit one of the shots of the year when Sinner lured him into the net, sending up a delicious lob that the Pole scampered after, before he conjured a brilliant forehand slap-shot passing winner.
In a repeat of the first, there was nothing to separate the two service-wise, with the second forced into a breaker as well.
Sinner seized the initiative early, and did not take his foot off the gas, earning his fourth title of the season when Hurkacz sliced a final backhand long.
“I knew I had to serve really well, and you play only a couple of really important points throughout the whole set,” Sinner said afterwards.
"So I was happy, and I tried to produce in the best possible way in the important moments. I’m very happy about this tournament because [winning for] the first time on grass court, it's a good feeling.”
”In the important moments, he served a couple of second serves in the tie-break, which then could make the difference. I guess that was the key today.”
“We are very good friends off-court and it’s nice to share the court with you,” Sinner said of his opponent.
“We played doubles together at the beginning of the week, so to see us in the final together here, it’s very special. We worked very hard for this result and we never take things for granted. We’ll keep pushing.
"My girlfriend Anna played in Berlin today. She lost after five match points. I’m very sorry for her, but she had an amazing week.”
“Congrats to Jannik,” Hurkacz said.
“You guys are doing an amazing job. It’s really inspiring what you’ve been doing in the last 12 months with Jannik becoming world No. 1. It’s really special and I try to learn from that. Big congrats to you guys. It’s a pleasure to be here.
“I’ve had some success here in the past. 2022 was a really great year for me. It’s really special to be back and to see so many of you guys out here enjoying tennis, it means a lot to us.”
PAUL LIFTS QUEEN'S TITLE WITH STRAIGHT SETS WIN OVER MUSETTI
Elsewhere, Tommy Paul lifted the Queen’s title by defeating Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets.
Paul, the fifth seed in London, defeated Britain’s Jack Draper en route to the final after the home favourite had knocked out top seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
The American closed out a 6-1 7-6(8) victory in west London in 88 minutes, and he will become the US No. 1 after Taylor Fritz was knocked out by Jordan Thompson in the quarter-finals.
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