“Really Enjoyed His Game”: Hubert Hurkacz Names Roger Federer as His Boyhood Idol

Reigning Miami Open champion Hubert Hurkacz has revealed that he grew up idolizing Roger Federer and was drawn to tennis after watching him play on television.

In an interview with a Polish publication, the 24-year-old Polish star said that he first saw the 20-time Grand Slam champion play when he was about eight or nine years old, or even younger.

Hubert Hubert reveals that he was drawn to tennis after Roger Federer in action

“Yes, Roger is my idol. I think I saw his first game when I was about eight or nine. Maybe even a little earlier,” Hurkacz said.

He added that he still remembers thinking at the time how much he enjoyed watching the Swiss in action and how he hoped to be like him someday.

“I remember that I really enjoyed his game from the very beginning,” the Pole said.

He lived a boyhood dream when he finally went face-to-face with his idol, and that too on the opposite ends of a tennis court, at Indian Wells 2019.

However, the quarter-final tie didn’t end well for the affable, soft-spoken Pole as he went down 4-6, 4-6 to the Swiss.

That has been his only head-to-head battle with Federer to this date.

His career, though, took a northward shift after his biggest championship win at Miami.

Hubert Hurkacz took down Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev in successive matches to win maiden Masters 1000 in Miami

Hurkacz recorded stunning, back-to-back upset victories over World No.5 Stefanos Tsitsipas and the eighth-ranked Russian Andrey Rublev to set up a title showdown with hugely-talented 19-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner.

Sinner did push the Pole to a tie-break in the opening set of the tournament final but the latter prevailed.

Going up a gear in the second set, the 24-year-old secured a decisive break of serve and held his own to eventually lift his maiden Masters 1000 title with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 win.

The successful campaign saw him race up the rankings and break into the Top-20 for the first time.

Read More: Hubert Hurkacz beats Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem to This Incredible Feat After Miami Open 2021 Victory

He is currently ranked No.16 in singles.