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via Reuters

via Reuters

Another event and another final for Jannik Sinner. This season has let fans experience several opportunities to back the young Italian as he runs hard on the quest for adding more titles. With his recent win over Zhang Zhizhen, the young champ has made it to the finals at the Halle Open where he is set to face Hubert Hurkacz.

Sinner recently drew his name parallel with the likes of Novak Djokovic by making it to the finals of the first event after earning the world no.1 crown. Will he be able to solidify his lead by winning the title? Let’s find out!

Jannik Sinner vs Hubert Hurkacz: Preview

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Jannik Sinner

Recently crowned as the world no.1, Jannik Sinner has proved to be quite dominant at the Halle Open. He made it to the finals after defeating:

  • Tallon Griekspoor 6-7(8) 6-3 6-2
  • Fabian Marozsan 6-4 6-7(4) 6-3
  • Jan-Lennard Struff 6-2 6-7(1) 7-6(3)
  • Zhizhen Zhang 6-4 7-6(3)

In the most recent match against the Chinese rival, the young Italian seemed to be on the aggressive side. Here are some stats from his last battle:

  • Hitting 35 winners and scoring 75 points compared to Zhang’s 64.
  • Sinner hit 8 aces and had only 1 double fault.
  • He won 81% of his first-serve points and 61% of his second-serve points.
  • Sinner didn’t concede any breaks and broke Zhang once.

Jannik Sinner has lost only 3 sets in this tournament and has won 53% of the points he played. He has a remarkable overall record with 73% wins (310-116) over the last 7 years and a 4-0 record on grass in 2024. His best results this year include winning his maiden grand slam title at the Australian Open, followed by other titles in Rotterdam, and Miami. He has an overall 37-3 win-loss record in 2024, including 4-0 on grass.

Hubert Hurkacz

Currently ranked at number 9 in the world, Hubert Hurkacz’s run at the Halle Open is enough to introduce his name. He made it to the finals of the grass-court event without even dropping a single set. Here are some recent stats recorded by him:

Journey to the Final:

    • Beat Flavio Cobolli 7-5, 7-6(2)
    • Overcame James Duckworth 7-6(3), 6-4
    • Defeated Marcos Giron 7-6(5), 6-4
    • Won against Alexander Zverev 7-6(2), 6-4 in the semifinals

Semifinal Performance Against Zverev:

    • Scored 68 points vs Zverev’s 65
    • Hit 43 winners
    • Served 17 aces and committed only 2 double faults
    • Won 81% of his first-serve points and 56% of his second-serve points
    • Did not concede any breaks and broke Zverev once

Overall Tournament Performance:

    • Hasn’t lost a set
    • Won 53% of the points he played

2024 Performance:

    • Overall record: 33 wins and 12 losses
    • 4-0 on grass courts
    • Best result: Won the title in Estoril, beating Pedro Martinez Portero 6-3, 6-4 in the final

Sinner vs Hurkacz: Head-to-head

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Jannik Sinner and Hubert Hurkacz have faced each other four times. Their score currently stands to be even, each winning twice, making their head-to-head record an even 2-2. However, the upcoming showdown will be different as they have never played against each other on grass before.

Their most recent match was at the Monte Carlo tournament in 2023, where Sinner came from behind to win 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-1 in the third round. This upcoming final will be their first clash on grass, adding new levels of excitement to their competition.

Prediction: Sinner to win in three sets

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Hubert Hurkacz has been very strong on grass as he has not given out even a single set in this event. He served a swift defeat to the Roland Garros finalist Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. Looking at his stats for the season, the Pole has already won a title on clay in Estoril and is now looking forward to adding another on his favorite surface, grass. Hurkacz has won all the tiebreaks he has played this week, a feat that seems to have played an evident role in boosting his confidence.

On the other side, this is the first final on grass for Jannik Sinner, but it likely won’t be his last. He has faced tough opponents from the start and has always justified the position he currently stands on. As the odds suggest, the upcoming showdown would surely be a tough one, with Sinner slightly being on the edge. It is predicted that the young Italian will brag one more title this season, winning over Hurkacz in a three-setter showdown.