July 04, (THEWILL) – Polish tennis star, Hubert Hurkacz, seeded seventh at Wimbledon, was forced to retire from his second-round match against Arthur Fils on Thursday, due to a knee injury.
The unfortunate incident occurred during a crucial fourth-set tiebreak on Court Two, abruptly ending Hurkacz’s 2024 Wimbledon campaign.
Hurkacz, who reached the semifinals in 2021 after defeating eight-time champion Roger Federer, sustained the injury while diving for a ball. Despite attempting to continue, the Polish player managed only two more points before conceding the match to his 20-year-old French opponent.
At the time of retirement, Fils had claimed the first two sets 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, with Hurkacz fighting back to take the third 6-2. The fourth set was poised for a dramatic conclusion, with Hurkacz holding a set point before the injury struck.
Fils, ranked 34th globally, expressed mixed emotions about his victory: “It’s not nice to win like that against a friend. We had a very good match, he was diving everywhere. I hope he gets better quickly.” The young Frenchman will now face either Roman Safiullin of Russia or Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic in his first Grand Slam third-round appearance.
This unexpected turn of events opens up the draw and could potentially impact the tournament’s outcome. Hurkacz, considered an outside contender for the title, will now focus on recovery as fans await updates on his condition.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
