EXPERIENCE was the difference in a huge clash between mates and occasional doubles partners as Hubert Hurkacz and Jannik Sinner went head-to-head in the Miami Open 1000 final, with the Polish 26th seed winning in their maiden matchup to clinch his first Masters 1000 title.

Hurkacz took just one hour and 43 minutes to dispose of Sinner in a closely fought 7-6 6-4 encounter, reigning supreme credit to his efficiency on serve, winning 69 per cent of his first serve points off an excellent 71 per cent clip compared to Sinner’s 55 per cent off a 60 per cent clip. Hurkacz also boasted a far cleaner return, which saw Sinner pile on 39 unforced errors throughout.

“Last year I spent here almost half a year,” Hurkacz said on-court post-match. “I was practising in the hottest weather during the spring and summer here, so I think that helped me a lot playing now in Florida, especially in these pretty tough conditions here, because it was a little bit slow here.

“The wind was blowing from side to side sometimes, so it’s huge.”

This victory marks Hurkacz’s biggest ATP Tour title of his career thus far and second for 2021, adding to his Winston-Salem ATP 250 title in 2019. He also enters the ATP Top 20 for the first time, rising to 16th in the world from 37th prior to the event.

Sinner was complimentary of his opponent and “best friend on Tour”.

“Hubi, many congratulations for this week and a half,” he said. “I think you showed what talent you have. I’m more proud 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.”

“I played [some] of the best tennis I’ve ever played,” Hurkacz said in his post-match press conference. “I was solid throughout the whole tournament, and I was able to get through each round, [and] was even more pumped for the next round. I think that’s something special for me.”

Intriguingly, this victory marked the first time a Polish player had won an ATP Masters 1000 title, with Hurkacz’s rise and milestone victory following compatriot Iga Swiatek‘s Roland Garros breakthrough in 2021.

“I had a big belief in myself from the beginning of the season,” Hurkacz said. “Winning the tournament like this gives you extra motivation and self-confidence that, okay, you’re able to do it. Like, you came through some really hard moments here, and you just try to do it.”

MIAMI OPEN 1000 FINAL RESULT:

[26] Hubert Hukacz (POL) defeated [21] Jannik Sinner (ITA) 7-6 6-4