Both Jannik Sinner and Hubert Hurkacz have showcased their bromance on and off the courts multiple times in the past. However, the 22-year-old Italian tennis star now wants to unfriend his Polish counterpart for at least two hours on Sunday (June 23). Reason? Well, the top-seeded Jannik Sinner will lock horns with fifth-seeded Hubert Hurkacz in the finals of the 2024 Halle Open. The pair know each other strengths and weaknesses very well, in fact, they even competed together in the doubles event here earlier this week. What does Sinner say about this blockbuster encounter against his “best friend“?

Well, there’s a lot at stake in this match! This is Jannik Sinner’s first event as the number one and he’s currently aiming for his fourth title in the 2024 season. If he somehow manages to beat the Polish tennis star, then he’ll become the 8th man in the PIF ATP Rankings to win a title in his first tournament as world number one. Hubert Hurkcaz on the other hand is chasing his second title of the season and if he wins this match then he’d become the only fourth player to win multiple singles titles in Halle.

Speaking about this nail-biting contest, where he’d face one of his closest friends on the Tour, Jannik Sinner said, “I think we’ve always been friends, so tomorrow for two hours we probably won’t be friends. Later, after the last point, we will be friends again. So that’s just the way it is.” Jannik Sinner in his post-match interview hailed Hubert Hurkacz’s serving prowess in this tournament. Hurkacz has so far managed to hit a staggering 64 aces in the 2024 Halle Open. Sinner knows it’ll be “very tough to break him” in this match, but he’s very much “excited” to step onto the courts and play against his “best friend.”

Currently, the best friends share their H2H scoreline at 2-2. Hubert Hurkacz is yet to drop a set in this tournament, while Jannik Sinner came through three consecutive three-setters before the SF this year. The Polish tennis star won this tournament in 2022, but Sinner’s best record in Halle came in 2023 when he reached the QF. They have never played against each other on grass, and this is what makes this contest more interesting. Who will win this clash of “best friends“? Time will tell, but let’s now take a look at their camaraderie!

The bromance between Jannik Sinner & Hubert Hurkacz

Speaking about his friendship during an interview in 2021, Jannik Sinner admitted, “Hubert is probably my best friend on the circuit. We train together, we talk in the locker room, and we played doubles together. But in the end, it’s every man for himself, and in the final, we won’t think about friendship.” Then after their first meeting at the 2021 Miami Open final, Sinner congratulated Hurkacz for his win.

He added, “I’m more proud of what kind of person you are. I have to say you are] maybe my best friend on Tour. Maybe we should play more doubles together.” Even Hubert Hurkacz has reflected his bond with the Italian multiple times in the past. In 2023 during an interview, Hurkacz was asked to name his best friends on Tour. He didn’t hesitate to name, “Jannik Sinner and Grigor Dimitrov” while replying to this question. Now, with both levels at 2-2 who do you think will take the first step forward in this exciting ‘rivalry‘?