Number-four-seeded Hubert Hurkacz advanced to his second career ATP Tour final by beating American qualifier Christian Harrison 7-6 (4), 6-4 on Tuesday at the Delray Beach Open.
Hurkacz’s only other final was in 2019, when he won at Winston-Salem to become the second Polish tour-level champion in the Open era. His opponent on Wednesday will be Sebastian Korda, who defeated Cameron Norrie of Britain.
Harrison, 26, was playing in his first career semifinal. He double-faulted on his final two service points to fall behind in the second set.
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Hurkacz served for the match, fell behind 15-40 and then closed it out by winning four consecutive points, the last three with big serves.
'Great start of the year'
He’s ranked 35th, and his success at Delray Beach means he may be seeded at next month’s Australian Open. That would allow him to avoid such title contenders as Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic in the first round, he noted.
“Obviously it’s a step forward, and I want to be playing better and better,” Hurkacz said. “It’s a great start of the year.”
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