From Rome, our correspondent
[14] T. Paul b. [7] H. Hurkacz 7-5 3-6 6-3
“I am a real American”. Verse from a cult song from the 80s, which however fits together well Tommy Paulunexpected protagonist of the Italian internationals. Not that he’s the only one, mind you, but for someone who had only won last year two matches out of seven on clay, and who in his entire career had played two quarter-finals to date (the only one he won in Italy, in Parma) on red, it’s a feat worth telling. After Medvedev it was who capitulated today Hubert Hurkacz, second top 10 beaten in a few days. Another piece added to personal records, given that Paul had won 10 times against players of this caliber, but never consecutively. Victory n.150 therefore brings him the third semi-final in a 1000 after Toronto 2023 and Indian Wells 2024. Will face Tsitsipas or Jarry.
First set: lots of confusion, Paul more decisive. He passes ahead
Surprisingly, the first break was scored by Paul, who was positive and aggressive in response. A bit’ To tell the truth, I unload Hubi, who concedes mostly with forehands, in fact almost giving the American the service in the third game, for his part well centered in attempting to vary and move the Pole. There’s not much brilliance on either side, but in the prolonged dribbling the one with the most numbers seems to be No. 16 in the world, deeper and with more ease of winning. Certainly favored by an imprecise Hurkacz, who despite a good counter-break was immediately put back down, also due to his less effective game than usual. Moving forward, safe a few flashes in response of the American, the situation does not change. Many errors, little linearity, as demonstrated by two breaks in a row in the tenth and eleventh games, which allow Paul, after various shocks and wasted advantages, to archive the first in his favor. Hurkacz’s serve was notably absent, a shot that the Yankee backhand passes the test with reasonable satisfaction.
Second set: Hurkacz sees the end, Paul is not quick. We go to the third
Even in the second set Paul immediately tries to place his foot, finding an immediate break again with good grace from Hurkacz, put in difficulty on serve by an opponent who responds well ahead. Always with the jokeand finding a bit of net enamel, however, manages to escrew the definitive patatrac canceling two double break points in the third game. And he thus gives an important change to the set, managing at the end of the longest game of the match to recover the disadvantage by picking up the pace in response and tempering Paul’s enthusiasm. A break that will reveal itself shortly afterwards in all its heaviness, with another break even at 0 in favor of the Pole, who puts in a frightening partial of 6 games to 1 to take the match to the third. Well done to him increase one’s own and unmask insecurities of the other, which dissolves completely, postponing continuous errors, haste and probably a certain frustration for the wasted opportunity.
Third set: Paul sweats 77 shirts, but after break after break he stops Hurkacz
Hurkacz seems revitalized, a distant relative of the man who played the first set and a half. More continuous and deep, good at keeping Paul away from the baseline. On his part, he doesn’t do much to make his life easier and, still putting a big hand into it, he suffers the break that puts him behind for the first time after the opening lines. But today is a rollercoaster day, with emotions reigning supreme and dealing with a technical level that is saved by some impromptu winning but conditioned by many errors even banal ones. And above all too many problems on serve, with Hurkacz being caught only to then regain the lead… to once again return the favor to Paul. In the end it is Paul who makes the most important move. A few steps forward, and into the eighth game he goes to remove the cobwebs from the corners and thus wins a break that will be decisive in a daring way. After a final game lasting almost a quarter of an hour, 6 break points canceled and two match points wasted, the Pole sends along yet another, last one straight. Almost 3 hours, reversals of fate, but the magic hat will play on Friday. Friday night lights.
