Tennis: Hubert Hurkacz upsets Andrey Rublev in Shanghai; Jessica Pegula lands Korea Open
Hubert Hurkacz upset the odds to beat world No. 7 Andrey Rublev to win the Shanghai Masters final after a superb three-setter in China.
Meanwhile. world No. 4 Jessica Pegula made light work of Yuan Yue to win her third title of the year at the Korea Open. Elsewhere, Leylah Fernandez beat Katerina Siniakova in what was the Canadian’s first title in Asia.
Hurkacz surprised Rublev to claim the Shanghai Masters title with a pulsating 6-3 3-6 7-6 (8) victory. The Pole came out on top after a thrilling third set to claim victory in China, overcoming a first top-20 player at the tournament in the final.
The world No. 17 broke Rublev’s serve in the sixth game at the third opportunity, moving 4-2 up and shifting the momentum of the first set in his favour. He would move 1-0 ahead on his second set point in a hold to 30, leaving Rublev needing a response.
The Russian did just that, and broke the Hurkacz serve in the second game, before claiming a crucial hold of his own to move into a 3-0 lead.
Rublev would level the overall score in the ninth game with a comfortable hold to love, wiping out the deficit and taking the match to a third-set decider.
Neither player budged in the opening exchanges of set three, as Rublev did brilliantly to stave off match point in the 10th game on his serve.
A tie-break beckoned, and after Rublev failed to capitalise on his first match point, Hurkacz prevailed on his fourth match point to win it 10-8 and claim a memorable victory.
Jessica Pegula cruised past Yuan Yue to win her third title of the year at the Korea Open, winning 6-2 6-3. The tournament’s top seed produced an imperious display to win the match in just under an hour and a half against the Chinese in Seoul.
Momentum shifted the American’s way in the fifth game after breaking Yue at the third opportunity to move 3-2 up, and secured a double break to leave her serving for the match.
She did just that after drawing first blood and move 1-0 ahead on her first set point with only 34 minutes on the clock.
The writing looked to be on the wall for Yue after surrendering on her serve at the beginning of set two, before Pegula claimed a double break to move 3-0 ahead.
Yue responded to break back, extinguishing any fears she may have had about succumbing to a bagel, as both players started to show weaknesses on their service game.
There was a further break of serve for Pegula and Yue to leave the score at 4-2, before the world No. 4 won on the Chinese’s serve again to win the title.
Siniakova broke back to reduce the arrears at 4-2, before an epic eighth game saw the Canadian swat away six break points to move 5-3 ahead.
She showed brilliant resolve to draw level on set point No. 1, and tee things up nicely heading into the third and final set.
Siniakova was desperately clinging on in the first game of set three, before initially succumbing to Fernandez’s aggressive return game after a fourth break point.
The match was firmly in the balance when Fernandez failed to hold in consecutive service games to leave the score at 4-4, but she broke back immediately and had a chance to serve for the championship.
She secured the title on her second set point to conclude the match after an epic two hours and 39 minutes of play.
