Rafael Nadal is Defeated by World No. 11 Hubert Hurkacz in a Pre-Australian Open Practise Match

Rafael Nadal participated in a practice match in Melbourne before the Australian Open, but he lost to Hubert Hurkacz, casting doubt on the success of the competition.

Who is Hubert Hurkacz?

Hubert Hurkacz is a professional Polish tennis player. He first reached the ATP’s world No. 9 ranking in November 2021, making him the highest-ranked Polish man in singles history. He’s won five singles matches on the ATP Tour, including a Masters 1000 match at the Miami Open in 2021. With the triumph, he created history by being the first Pole to win an ATP Masters 1000 tournament. He won his first ATP title in 2019 at the Winston-Salem Open.

The next year, he won the 2020 ATP Cup against three opponents with higher rankings and advanced to the 2020 ATP Auckland Open semifinals. After winning his second and third singles titles in 2021, he went on to the 2021 Wimbledon Championships and made it to his first Grand Slam semifinal, becoming the second Polish man to do so after Jerzy Janowicz in 2013.

Nadal lost the practice match:

He was defeated by Hubert Hurkacz of Poland on January 12 in a practice match for the Australian Open. The Spaniard was defeated by world No. 11 7-6, 7-5.

The match was a part of the four-day exhibition matches that took place at Melbourne Park before the tournament. 

Hurkacz shared a photo on Twitter with the 22-time Grand Slam champion following the match.

Hurkacz wrote: “Thanks @RafaelNadal for a great practice today. Good to be back in Melbourne.”

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