Last Updated on June 2, 2023
Hubert Hurkacz, born on 11th February 1997, has made a name for himself in the world of professional tennis. He has risen to prominence, being ranked as high as world No. 9 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), a milestone he achieved in November 2021. This makes him the highest-ranked Polish man in the history of singles tennis. Hurkacz has claimed six ATP Tour singles titles, including a significant victory at the 2021 Miami Open where he became the first Polish player to win an ATP Masters 1000 title. Not only a singles player, but Hurkacz also shines in doubles, reaching a career-high ranking of world No. 30 in June 2022.
Before turning professional, Hurkacz already had an impressive record as a junior tennis player, holding a rank as high as No. 29 in the world. Alongside his partner Alex Molčan, Hurkacz achieved the runners-up position at the 2015 Australian Open boys’ doubles final. His career started to gain significant momentum in 2018 when he made it into the top 100 for the first time after reaching the second rounds of both the 2018 French Open and 2018 US Open. Hurkacz’s performances allowed him to qualify for the Next Generation ATP Finals, where he scored a victory against Jaume Munar.
Despite his commanding 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) stature and a serve that can reach up to 151 miles per hour, Hurkacz is not only an offensive player. He is known for his all-court style and has earned recognition for his defensive baseline play and netplay. He often incorporates serve-and-volley tactics to finish points. More recently, in 2023, he made significant strides at the United Cup and the Australian Open, proving his worth on the international stage. With such a successful career, it’s intriguing to delve into the lives of those who supported him in his journey – his parents.
Who Are His Parents Krzysztof And Zofia?
Hubert Hurkacz’s parents, Krzysztof and Zofia Hurkacz, played a significant role in fostering his love for sports. Krzysztof, a former water polo player, took a keen interest in basketball and tennis after Hubert’s birth. “When Hubert was already in the world, basketball and tennis were more interesting for me, too,” he said in an interview with “Rzeczpospolita”. He also mentioned how diverse sports activities, such as gymnastics, were an excellent addition to their court activities.
Zofia, Hubert’s mother, was the one who introduced him to tennis. As a former Polish championships medalist herself, she first brought Hubert to tennis training. “My mom played tennis, she taught my dad a little bit, and at that time, when I was 3-4 years old, I was bouncing a ball over a fence. And then I was signed up for classes,” Hubert shared in an interview with Dariusz Dobek for Onet.
Sports are not a new interest in the Hurkacz family, as Hubert’s uncles played tennis, and his grandfather was a volleyball player. “Uncle Tomek represented Poland in the Davis Cup tournament. I think they both played at a good level, but their careers didn’t turn out the way they wanted,” Hubert mentioned in an interview for Polsat Sport.
Hubert faced a difficult decision at a young age, whether to pursue basketball or tennis. His father revealed that it was the basketball team’s ultimatum that led Hubert to choose tennis. “This choice was also natural, without deliberations at the table, just basketball was out,” Krzysztof explained in an interview with “Rzeczpospolita”. He admires his son’s determination, “Hubert can achieve his goals, but he doesn’t define them sharply. And he likes to have fun with what he does. The goal doesn’t limit him,” he said. He also defended his son against claims that he is too polite for modern tennis, stating, “He is a fighter to the last drop of blood. You don’t see that because he doesn’t have the need to get his emotions out like others do.”
Also Read:
- Hubert Hurkacz’s Net Worth 2023 – Prize Money, Salary, Sponsors
- Who Is Hubert Hurkacz’s Coach In 2023?
- Hubert Hurkacz Tennis Racquet
Who is Hubert Hurkacz’s sister?
Hubert Hurkacz isn’t the only athlete in the family. His younger sister, Nika, is also a big tennis fan and plays the sport with passion. Speaking of Nika, her father mentioned to “Super Express”, “Like Hubert, she is strongly active. We absolutely don’t want to direct or pressure her, but she has a lot of ambition and peeps her brother. However, she will definitely do everything her own way”.
Nika’s hard work and dedication to the sport have already started to pay off. According to “Dziennik Łódzki”, she, alongside Oliwia Jędrzejak, triumphed at the MKT tournament in Lodz in August 2020. This victory shows that, like her brother, she has a promising future in tennis.
