Hubert Hurkacz completes career set of Masters 1000 quarterfinals by reaching last eight in Rome

A few days ago, Hubert Hurkacz defeated Rafael Nadal, 6-1, 6-3, to add his name to a very exclusive list of players to beat Nadal in straight sets on clay and Roger Federer in straight sets on grass.

And today, Hurkacz completes another rare collection.

The Polish men’s No. 1 has completed his career set of Masters 1000 quarterfinals, meaning he’s now reached at least the quarterfinals of all nine Masters 1000 events, after battling back from a set down to defeat Sebastian Baez in the fourth round in Rome, 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-4.

HURKACZ’S BEST RESULT AT EACH MASTERS 1000:

• QFs of Indian Wells (2019, 2021)
• Won Miami (2021)
• QFs of Monte Carlo (2022)
• QFs of Madrid (2022)
• QFs of Rome (2024)
• F of Canada (2022)
• SFs of Cincinnati (2023)
• Won Shanghai (2023)
• SFs of Paris (2021)

Hurkacz, who was born in 1997, is also sixth man born in 1990 or later to complete a career set of Masters 1000 quarterfinals, and just the fourth man born in 1995 or later to achieve the feat.

PLAYERS BORN IN 1990s TO REACH ALL 9 MASTERS 1000 QFs:

• Dominic Thiem [born in 1993]
• Stefanos Tsitsipas [born in 1998]
• Alexander Zverev [born in 1997]
• Grigor Dimitrov [born in 1991]
• Daniil Medvedev [born in 1996]
• Hubert Hurkacz [born in 1997]

In their first career meeting it was Baez who took control early on against Hurkacz, not only winning the first set, but eventually finding himself up a set and a break at 7-5, 3-2. And even after losing that break, Baez jumped ahead 3-1 in the ensuing second set tie-break.

But Hurkacz won six of the next seven points to send the match to a third set, then broke midway through the decider and held from there until it was all over after two hours and 38 minutes on court.

He finished the match with 45 winners to 43 unforced errors, with his serve producing 17 aces to just 2 double faults on the day.

Awaiting the No. 7-seeded Hurkacz in the quarterfinals will be No. 14 seed Tommy Paul, who took out No. 2 seed and defending champion Daniil Medvedev, 6-1, 6-4, for his 10th career Top 10 win.

Hurkacz and Paul are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head, though both meetings were on hard courts—this will be their first meeting on clay.