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ZipRecruiter Player Resume: Hubert Hurkacz, whose focus now shifts to the ATP Finals

The highest-ranked Polish player in men's tennis history fell early at the US Open, but he'll remain a Top 10 force this fall.

By Ed McGrogan
Hubert Hurkacz Zip Recruiter0:50

Career Achievements

  • 117-94 record
  • Reached No. 9 in ATP rankings in October 2021
  • Has won nearly $8 million in total prize money
  • Won biggest title of career in Miami, last year
  • Defeated Nick Kyrgios and Casper Ruud en route to 2022 Montreal final
  • Defeated Roger Federer 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-0 in the 2021 Wimbledon quarterfinals
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 30: Hubert Hurkacz of Poland celebrates a point against Oscar Otte of Germany in their Men's Singles First Round match on Day Two of the 2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 30, 2022 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
© Getty Images

Iga Swiatek continues to carry the Polish flag at the US Open, having just reached her first semifinal in Flushing Meadows. The season's final Slam wasn't as kind to compatriot Hubert Hurkacz, but it's clear that the kind 25-year-old nevertheless make plenty of new fans in New York City.

A look at Hurkacz's entertaining tweets shows why. First, there was his tournament prep with coach Craig Boynton, whose gray bread gives off elderly James Harden vibes. Hubi and coach had some fun with it, as they often do:

In Queens, after a practice on the Grandstand, Hurkacz was met with a sea of oversized tennis balls after having hit plenty of standard-sized ones. And according to the intrepid Blair Henley, the No. 10-ranked player in the world took the time to autograph every single one:

After defeating Oscar Otte in a straight-set first-rounder, Hurkacz took a surprising loss to Ilya Ivashka—not the worst loss in retrospect, as the Belarusian would end up taking Jannik Sinner to five sets in the fourth round.

While a second-round finish wasn't up to Hurkacz's high standards, he'll return to Europe for the conclusion of the season trying to add another indoor title, or two, to his resume. In all, Hurkacz has won five times on tour:

  • 2019: Winston-Salem (Outdoor/Hard)
  • 2021: Delray Beach (Outdoor/Hard)
  • 2021: ATP Masters 1000 Miami (Outdoor/Hard)
  • 2021: Metz (Indoor/Hard)
  • 2022: Halle (Outdoor/Grass)

On the plus side for Hurkacz: he was only defending a second-round finish in New York, so his ranking points will remain unaffected. And even if surprise semifinalists Frances Tiafoe or Karen Khachanov go on to win the US Open, Hurkacz will remain ranked No. 10. Besides the prestige of that number, it ensures that he'll continue to be seeded very high in the year's remaining events.

The same cannot be said about Novak Djokovic, in regards to his ranking. The 2021 US Open finalist will drop to No. 7—just 215 points ahead of Hurkacz. A few strong results can vault the Pole into the Top 8, the entry cutoff for the season-ending ATP Finals.

TURIN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 12: L-R Andrey Rublev of Russia, Alexander Zverev of Germany, Matteo Berrettini of Italy, Novak Djokovic of Serbia, Daniil Medvedev of Russia, Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, Casper Ruud of Norway and Hubert Hurkacz of Poland ahead of the Nitto ATP Tour Finals at on November 12, 2021 in Turin. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for ATP )
© Getty Images for ATP

Considering Hurkacz's play on hard courts—he finished runner-up at the prestigious US Open tune-up in Canada this August—and his style off the court (he's on the far right, turtlenecked, in great image from Milan last year above), many would relish the chance to see Hurkacz vie for a season-ending championship. Especially those fans in New York who came home having scored a sweet signature.