Muscat Daily

Poland’s Hurkacz faces ‘unbelievab­le’ Federer

-

London, UK - Hubert Hurkacz became just the fourth Polish man to reach the Wimbledon quarterfin­als on Tuesday with a five-set win over Russian second seed Daniil Medvedev.

World No 18 Hurkacz won 2-6, 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a match held over from Monday due to rain and will now face Roger Federer for a place in the semifinals.

"For this sport, Roger is unbelievab­le, what he does, how he plays and the titles he has won throughout his career. He inspired so many people and it's going to be fun," said Hurkacz.

Hurkacz's last-16 tie had started on Court Two on Monday but was suspended with him 4-3 up in the fourth set. It was completed under the Centre Court roof in front of a capacity crowd of 15,000.

"Playing on this unbelievab­le court, the best court in the world with this magnificen­t crowd, is so special and means a lot to me," said Hurkacz.

Hurkacz, 24, follows in the footsteps of fellow Poles who made the last-eight at the All England Club - Wojtek Fibak (1980) and Jerzy Janowicz and Lukasz Kubot (2013).

Earlier on Monday, Federer became the oldest man in the modern era to make the last-eight at Wimbledon.

Federer, who will be 40 in just under five weeks' time, brushed aside Italy's Lorenzo Sonego 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 to make the quarterfin­als at

Wimbledon for the 18th time and 58th overall at the majors.

Federer is the oldest man in the last-eight since the dawn of the Open Era in 1968.

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic can inch closer to a title showdown against Federer on Wednesday when he makes landmark appearance in the quarterfin­als. World No 1 Djokovic, chasing a sixth title here and record-equalling 20th Grand Slam, plays his 50th quarterfin­al at the majors.

Novak Djokovic (x1) vs

Marton Fucsovics, Karen Khachanov (x25) vs Denis Shapovalov (x10), Matteo Berrettini (x7) vs Felix AugerAlias­sime (x16), Roger Federer (x6) vs Hubert Hurkacz (x14).

 ??  ?? Poland's Hubert Hurkacz
Poland's Hubert Hurkacz

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Oman