Why the ATP Finals crowd booed the exhibition match between Hurkacz and Fritz

NOVEMBER 15, 2023 12:30

The crowd present at the PalaAlpitour in Turin, which packed the stadium for day 3 of the ATP Finals, harshly (and probably unfairly) booed the exhibition match between Hubert Hurkacz and Taylor Fritz. For those present at the stadium, it was an almost grotesque situation.

The withdrawal of Stefanos Tsitsipas, after just three games in the match with Holger Rune, had ended the daytime session early, infuriating the crowd in the stands, who had paid for the ticket to watch the match between the Greek and the Dane.

To overcome the problem, the tournament board sent the two alternates Hubert Hurkacz and Taylor Fritz onto the court, in order to play an exhibition match to entertain the crowd present at the PalaAlpitour. However, the people present in the stands did not appreciate the situation, unfairly raining down undeserved boos on the two tennis players.

The crowd present who paid the ticket did not appreciate the exhibition match

It must be said that the quality of play on the court admired in the exhibition match was not high. Taylor Fritz, in particular, is not in great physical condition, considering that even during the ATP Masters 1000 in Paris-Bercy he had to withdraw in the second round, due to physical problems.

The North American tennis player took to the court unable to express himself at his best. The final result was 6-3 in favor of Hubert Hurkacz, who on Thursday will have to challenge the Serbian world number 1 champion Novak Djokovic, in the only match of the ATP Finals that he will play this year.

We recall the Serb was defeated on the Day 3 night session by the young Italian Jannik Sinner. The world no.4 was able to beat for the first time in career the Serbian world no.1. Below you can watch the video of the exhibition match played by Hurkacz and Fritz, released on X by Tennis TV:

Hubi having a laugh 🤣@HubertHurkacz wins the exhibition set against Fritz 6-3 with a smile on his face at all times!
😄#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/ZDN3Omdqw4 — Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 14, 2023