Hubert Hurkacz injures knee on Wimbledon dive, retires down match point to Arthur Fils
"He was in pain and he couldn't move. I didn't care about the score," said the 20-year-old Frenchman on Thursday.
Arthur Fils celebrated his first Top 10 win at a major Thursday in reaching the third round of Wimbledon.
The way it wrapped wasn't how Fils—or any competitor—would want to commemorate a milestone victory: via retirement on match point.
Seventh-ranked Hubert Hurkacz injured himself while diving for a shot late in the pair’s fourth-set tiebreaker, and after playing two more points, approached the net to throw in the towel. Fils officially advanced, 7-6 (2), 6-4, 2-6, 6-6 (9-8) ret.
"The ending is super weird," summed up Fils in his press conference.
During the tie-break, Fils saved a set point with a closing forehand volley. Hurkacz followed suit by erasing match point with an unreturnable serve out wide. Little did the two know what unexpected twist was about to play out.
At 7-7, a fully-stretched Hurkacz dove for the Frenchman’s reply to his drop shot. It left the court wide open, though Fils somehow netted his forehand push. As that was happening, Hurkacz came up clutching his right knee after standing up.
The Pole returned to the ground grimacing in pain. Fils came over to check on his opponent and was applauded for helping Hurkacz to his feet, The former semifinalist soon sat back down on the grass, as the trainer arrived a short time later to evaluate and treat the 27-year-old.
"I saw a friend. He was in pain and he couldn't move. I didn't care about the score," stated Fils. "I was just hoping that the guy is well and he can still walk and everything. He told me that he felt something in his knee. I forgot the score at this point. I was just trying to help him, and just that's it."
Hurkacz was eventually aided to his player bench area, where he received a full medical timeout on the impacted area that looked to be located behind the knee.
On the very first point upon resuming, more drama followed.
Hurkacz bizarrely decided to lay out again after coming forward—his effort this time coming nowhere near the crosscourt forehand that whizzed by. Moved around on the next point in an extended rally that went to Fils, Hurkacz then decided not to play any further down match point a second time.
Fils is through to the third round of a major for the first time. The 20-year-old improved to 18-16 on the season.