Hurkacz Captures Metz Double
Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz completed a Moselle Open double on Sunday as he lifted the doubles trophy with countryman Jan Zielinski, just hours after winning the singles title in Metz.
The unseeded pair produced a strong performance, winning 84 per cent (38/45) of their first-serve points as they overcame Hugo Nys and Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 6-3 in 70 minutes.
“I am feeling pretty good,” Hurkacz said. “I am very happy that I was able to win the singles and of course, doubles. That is super great. You always come to the tournament and believe you can win it, but most of the time you lose. So when you eventually win, it is great.”
Hurkacz and Zielinski were teaming at a tour-level event for the first time, having competed together at ATP Challenger Tour tournaments in 2015 and 2016. They did not drop a set en route to the title as Hurkacz became the first player to sweep both titles in the tournament’s 19-year history.
[FOLLOW ACTION]Zielinski was competing in his second tour-level doubles final, after reaching the championship match in Gstaad (w/Walkow) in July, while Hurkacz lifted his only other doubles title with Felix Auger-Aliassime in Paris last year.
“We text every day after every win Hubert achieves this year,” Zielinski added. “He texted me a couple of weeks ago and we talked about the tournament and he agreed to play with me. I didn’t expect to win the title as this is my second ATP Tour event ever, but we enjoyed our company on the court. It was a great atmosphere and we played with a smile on our faces.”
Nys and Rinderknech upset second seeds Tomislav Brkic and Nikola Cacic in the semi-finals and were competing in their second tour-level event as a team after reaching the second round at the US Open.