Polish Hubi elbows his way into Turin contention

Hubert Hurkacz on Sunday inserted himself in the ATP year-end finals conversation as he beat Andrey Rublev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (8) to win the Shanghai Masters after saving a match point.

The towering Pole moves up to 11th in the race to the Finals next month in Turin, standing within touching distance of provisional eighth Holger Rune.

Hubi  lifted his second career Masters title (Miami 2021 on the back of 21 aces, saving a Rublev match-winner at 5-6 in the third-set tie-break.

He claimed the trophy on his own fourth opportunity after just over two hours. 

The winner called victory “such a battle.. especially emotionally.”

“I had a match point and Andrey hit an amazing serve and then he had a match point and then I had some match points.

“It was back and forth and such a tricky match. Andrey was playing some great shots.

Hurkacz added: “It was one of those matches and I kept believing and I am super happy with how I managed at the end. It’s such a big tournament and so much tradition. 

The No. 17 lifted his seventh career title and notched his 39th win of the season.

Rublev was denied a second Masters honour this season after winning Monte Carlo in the spring; he did not drop a set here until meeting up with Hurkacz.