Captain Radwanska Praises ‘Role Model’ Hurkacz

Much of the discussion around Team Poland at the United Cup has centred around the the captain-player pairing of former WTA No. 2 Agnieszka Radwanska and current World No. 1 Iga Swiatek. While Swiatek has delivered in Brisbane with a pair of singles wins, so too has teammate Hubert Hurkacz, who entered 2023 at No. 10 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

Hurkacz, who defeated Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan and Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland to help his country to a 2-0 Group B record, also paired with Swiatek for a mixed doubles win against Kazakhstan. 

Asked about her top male player, Radwanska pointed out the 25-year-old’s professionalism as a standout trait.

“He’s very professional. He’s really focussed on the game,” she said after Poland’s 3-2 victory against Team Switzerland. “He’s doing everything off the court to play the best tennis. I admire him that at a really young age he became a model for all the young kids, how to do everything to play the best tennis: how to eat, how to stretch, how to practise, how to be focused all the time, to really prepare for the match 100 per cent.

“That’s something that you’re not going to see very often at a young age. He did that since I know him. When you’re a teenager, sometimes in your mind there are so many different things. He was always focussed on tennis. That’s why he’s here [in the Top 10], playing some of the best tennis in the world. It’s good to see him playing better and better tennis, and I really hope he can do even better than that.”

In terms of his on-court arsenal, Radwankska had more good things to say about the 6-foot-5 Pole: “He’s a great server, that’s for sure,” she said. “He can play all day long. He’s physically and mentally strong.”

But like any good captain, she still wants to see more from her charge — and she is confident Hurkacz will deliver.

“I think there is always something to improve, right?” she continued. “It’s the sport of tennis. You always work on something and you want to be better and play better. But he’s such a hard worker, so I think he’s going to have a lot of years on Tour. He’s really taking care of his body, as well, very well.

“I think we’re gonna see him for so long on the court. I really believe he can do everything.”