Google News Hubert Hurkacz shows class, praises Lucas Pouille after dominant Metz win
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 1731
No. 1 seed Hubert Hurkacz praised Lucas Pouille following their clash in Metz. Hurkacz, who had a first round bye in Metz, kicked off his Metz campaign in style as he saw off former world No. 10 Pouille 6-2 6-3 tp reach the quarterfinal.
“It was a good match from my side,” Hurkacz said in his on-court interview. “Lucas is a great player, he is playing very aggressively. He is coming back and I have high hopes I will see him closer to the Top 10, he has the game.
It was really great to play here in front of you guys, it was a lot of fun”. “I was able to practise here a couple of times on this court, so that helped for sure. I played two doubles matches with my friend [Jan Zielinski],” Hurkacz added.
“I really enjoy playing here and it is nice to see the crowd. It is always a great atmosphere”.
Hurkacz routed Pouille
Hurkacz made a great start to the match, having won the opening three games. Hurkacz then claimed his second break of the match in the eighth game to comfortably win the opener.
Pouille saved three break points in the second game of the second set but dropped his serve again in the fourth game as Hurkacz took a 3-1 lead. Hurkacz failed to convert a match point in the eighth game but routinely served out for the match in the following game.
Hurkacz will be fighting against three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray for a place in the Metz semifinal. This week, Murray said: "I want to play as much as I can. Hopefully I win lots of matches, improve my ranking and get my body used to competing week in, week out again.
I haven't really done that for a number of years but my body is responding pretty well so far."