After a mid-match withdrawal in Beijing, Hubert Hurkacz is back for the Shanghai Masters, facing James Duckworth this Thursday.
The silence from Hubert Hurkacz’s camp lasted less than a week. Just days after he was forced to retire from his ATP 500 semifinal in Beijing due to a thigh muscle injury, the Wrocław native has made his decision clear: he is not walking away from the tour just yet.
Hurkacz is officially scheduled to compete in the ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai. His return to the baseline comes this Thursday, October 8, where he will face Australian James Duckworth in the opening round.
The matchup is set for the central court, though the timing remains fluid. Hurkacz and Duckworth are scheduled second in line for that court. following the opening clash between Belgian Kimmer Coppejans and Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas. With the day’s play starting at 6:00 a.m. Polish time, fans can expect the Polish number one to step out around 8:00 a.m.
The history between the two players is one-sided, though every match presents its own set of variables. Hurkacz holds a 2-0 record against the Australian, having secured wins during their 2021 meeting at the Paris Masters and again on the grass courts of Halle earlier in 2024.
However, the road ahead is steep. The winner of Thursday’s match earns a direct ticket to the second round, where Novak Djokovic is already waiting. The Serbian, seeded tenth, earned a first-round bye, positioning him as the immediate hurdle for whoever survives the Hurkacz-Duckworth contest.
For those following from home, the match will be broadcast via Polsat Sport and the Polsat Box Go service, with live text coverage available on the WP SportoweFakty portal.
Hubert Hurkacz Shanghai Masters ATP James Duckworth tennis Novak Djokovic sports news