Novak Djokovic remains world No 1: Hubert Hurkacz stops Daniil Medvedev in Miami

ATP Tour
Novak Djokovic Hubert Hurkacz

Hubert Hurkacz continued his fine form at the Miami Open with an upset victory over World No 2 Daniil Medvedev to ensure Novak Djokovic retains the No 1 ranking.

Medvedev needed to reach the semi-finals to reclaim the No 1 ranking that he held for just three weeks, but Hurkacz ended his World No. 1 bid in empathic fashion on Hard Rock Stadium.

Hurkacz unleashed a power game that was difficult for Medvedev to counter and would triumph 7-6(7), 6-3 in two hours and two minutes.

Hurkacz had flown out to a 3-0 lead as he pulled Medvedev from corner to corner with his incredibly heavy striking.

From 5-2 ahead and seemingly in control, though, Medvedev showed why he is a 13-time tour-level champion as he hit with greater depth to force Hurkacz into errors.

The 25-year-old recomposed himself though and edged the tight tie-break. He received a sizeable slice of luck at 7/7 when his mis-hit forehand dropped awkwardly at the feet of Medvedev, who could only hit his half-volley long.

Hurkacz then continued to play aggressively at the start of the second set as he pressurised Medvedev with deep returns.

In a mammoth fifth game, Hurkacz fired the ball into the corners, stayed patient and eventually gained the break on his sixth break point of the game. He then powered through his final service games and broke a tiring Medvedev again to seal his standout win.

The Pole is now 10-0 at the Miami Open since 2021, having captured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown in Florida last year.

Hurkacz has eliminated Arthur Rinderknech, Aslan Karatsev, Lloyd Harris and Medvedev, with his quarter-final win over the top seed levelling their ATP Head2Head series at 2-2.

“I think the return was crucial. I was able to make a lot of returns and get some free points on my serve, because having rallies with Daniil is fun, but they get long,” Hurkacz said on his on-court interview.

“It is good I was able to get some free points.

“I have spent a lot of time in Florida, so I am used to the humidity. I think the conditions were in my favour today, so I tried to use them.”

Hurkacz will play either rising Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz or Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the last four as he aims to claim his first title of the season.

“Carlos has been playing some amazing tennis this year, only played good matches I think, so that would be super tough,” Hurkacz said. “But Kecmanovic played some super tennis in Indian Wells and he is now backing that up here in Miami. It will be interesting.”

It is only the second time in his ATP Tour career that Hurkacz has defeated a Top 2 opponent, with his other win coming against then-World No. 2 Medvedev at Wimbledon in July.

Daniil Medvedev Hubert Hurkacz Novak Djokovic

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