The 2025 United Cup has already gifted us some exciting matches in the last three days and we’re now on Day 4. Guess what? It’s time for us to fasten our seatbelts because Norwegian tennis star Casper Ruud is all set to take on Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in just a few hours from now. Who will win this mega battle on Monday (December 30)?

Casper Ruud vs Hubert Hurkacz: Preview

Casper Ruud has entered this tournament after having a decent outing in the 2024 season. Last season, Ruud reached five finals but managed to seal the deal on just two occasions. His first title triumph in 2024 came at the Barcelona Open where he defeated the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in two sets. Then later, his second title came at the Geneva Open where he outclassed the Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac by 7-5,6-3. Interestingly, Casper Ruud is entering this contest against Hurkacz, following his hard-earned victory against Machac in his first match at the 2025 United Cup.

Hubert Hurkacz, on the other hand, also had a decent season in 2024, however, at times he looked a bit shaky. Hurkacz also struggled with a knee injury in the latter half of the 2024 season. However, he did manage to win a title at the Estoril Open this year. He defeated Spain’s Pedro Martinez by 6-3,6-4 in the final. After that, he managed to reach the final at the Halle Open, but was beaten by the current world no.1 Jannik Sinner. Hurkacz was last seen in action at the Japan Open where he managed to reach the R16. 

Ruud vs Hurkacz: Head-to-Head

Talking about the faceoffs between Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkacz, they have locked horns thrice in their careers so far. Currently, Casper Ruud has a 2-1 lead over the Polish star in the H2H record!

• 2024 ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo R16: Ruud 6-4,6-2.
• 2022 ATP Masters 1000 Canada SF: Hurkacz 5-7,6-3,6-2.
• 2022 Roland Garros R16: Ruud 6-2,6-3,3-6,6-3.

Prediction: Ruud to win this match in straight sets

Casper Ruud was very impressive in the 2024 season. His consistency throughout the season was really praise-worthy. Although he could’ve won a few more titles, still the way he played in 2024 would give him an upper hand against someone like Hurkacz. If we take a look at their win-loss record, Casper Ruud (6) secured a win-loss record of 50-25 last season, while Hubert Hurkacz managed to put up a record of 40-19. Not much to differentiate between the two looking at the win-loss record, but what matters most is the number of big matches they’ve played in the past twelve months.

Now, if we take a glimpse at their playing styles, Casper Ruud is more of an offensive baseliner who hits with heavy topspin. He can generate a lot of power with his groundstrokes. Ruud is also a good server. The 26-year-old Norwegian has hit 400 aces this season and committed 141 double faults. Apart from these, if we take a look at the other side of Casper Ruud’s game, his backhand is not his strength but it’s consistent enough to help him win points. He’s often praised for his calm on-court demeanor and lack of emotional outbursts.

His opponent, Hubert Hurkacz is a bit opposite when it comes to their playing styles. While Ruud relies on a steady baseline game to wear down his opponents, Hurkacz likes to play high-risk tennis. He is a big hitter and has a lethal serve in his armory. Hubert Hurkacz has hit 736 aces this season and committed just 94 double faults. Apart from that, he can also generate some real power with his forehand and backhand shots, which can be a real challenge for Ruud in this epic battle.

Hurkacz has also been described as a serve-and-volley player, and we often see him keep his opponents on their toes. However, is it enough to take down Ruud in this match? Looks pretty much unlikely at the moment! Casper Ruud should win this match in straight sets.