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Watch Roger Federer is Hubert Hurkacz's first professional tennis memory.
"He's just different," he says. "The way he plays hits the ball. It's very special. It is certain that he inspires me.
Friday at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, when the 22-year-old Pole will embark on one of the biggest tennis scenes for his first quarterfinal of the ATP Masters 1000, he will face his idol, Federer. This time, the Swiss will not be on TV, but across the net.
"[It] It's been my dream since I was a kid, "says Hurkacz. "It's the greatest thing that can happen to a tennis player: playing in big stadiums, organizing big events against big players …. Especially here, in the quarter-finals, it's something special for me.
Hurkacz already met Federer in October at the Rolex Shanghai Masters and described it as an "incredible experience" in an Instagram post. The Swiss have also reviewed this workout with affection.
"I remember that during the warm-up he hardly made a mistake and every time he made a mistake, he apologized," Federer said. "It's a really nice guy and he looks very nice."
"Sweet" may not be the first word that comes to your mind when you think of a tennis player over 6 "5, but it's a good one way to describe Hurkacz, whose behavior seems to be a stark contrast to the flashy cars and thrillers of Robert Ludlum he appreciates.
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Hurkacz might not give long philosophical answers at his press conferences, like Federer – at least not yet. But on the field, his powerful game and his fast movements provide him with a powerful combination that should help him continue his climb on the ATP circuit.
"I try to serve well, to establish a point after my service. I can also play a little defense because when I was younger, in Poland, we have a lot of clay courts, "says Hurkacz. "All year long, we played on dirt pitches. We did not have many tournaments on hard ground.
Hurkacz's mother used to play tennis. As a result, when he dragged himself, Hurkacz was trying to hit the fence with bullets. He then started working with a coach and enjoyed the sport. The rest belongs to the story.
Would he beat his mother now?
"Maybe," Hurkacz, with his usual smile, said after a pause to deliberate.
While not optimistic about his mother's loss, Hurkacz's performance on the field over the past year has shown that he can compete with some of the best ATP players. Last year, at the same time, he was No. 212 in the ATP rankings, but he's qualified for the 2018 final of the next generation of ATP and is now at a peak in career, n ° 67.
"My main goal is to improve all the time and [be] able to beat the real top guys, "says Hurkacz.
It is normal for the Polish No. 1 family to be with him in the California desert this week, where he is working with Craig Boynton – also Steve Johnson's coach – for the first time in a tournament. Hurkacz's efforts at Indian Wells were the best of his career, beating Australian Open semi-finalist Lucas Pouille, sixth-seeded Kei Nishikori and Canadian #NextGenATP Denis Shapovalov, all in three sets.
"I'm still waiting for a battle. I know its potential, "says Shapovalov. "We practiced many times. I know how much he can play. "
Federer is also aware. And while the five-time Swiss champion plays for the first time in the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000, this 37-year-old is giving Hurkacz his full attention.
"I'm happy for him that he's playing so well now," said Federer. "Beat Nishikori in Dubai and here, back to back, and now also Shapovalov, it's an effort. It shows what he has and what we will see in the future. I'm looking forward to the match. "
Although Hurkacz does not speak much, he hopes to let his game speak to his idol Friday.
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