Hubert Hurkacz clinches last ATP Finals spot

Hubert Hurkacz has realised his dream for the end of the season by reaching the Paris Masters semi-finals and qualifying for the ATP Finals.

The world number 10 faced surprise quarter-finalist James Duckworth for a place in the last four of the final Masters event of the season.

Hurkacz claimed the opening set in straightforward fashion, sealing a double break for 6-2. A break for Duckworth looked to unsettle the Pole in the second, but Hurkacz responded immediately to put the match back on serve.

The set required a tiebreak, which Duckworth controlled to start with by taking a 4-0 lead. While Hurkacz was able to claw the score back to 6-4, Duckworth levelled the tie 7-4 in the breaker.

The deciding set was extremely tight, with only one break point chance up until 6-5 for Hurkacz. But then, serving to stay in the match, Duckworth went 15-40 down, eventually losing on Hurkacz’s third match point.

The 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 7-5 victory takes Hurkacz 300 points clear of Jannik Sinner in the Race to Turin. With the Italian out of Paris and only the ATP 250 Stockholm Open left, Sinner now cannot catch Hurkacz.

It means he becomes the first Polish man to qualify for the tour finals since Wojtek Fibak in 1976.

Hurkacz will now face the winner of Taylor Fritz and Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Paris Masters.

His run in the French capital makes more history for his nation too. Read about that by clicking here.

Read >> US Open BREAKING NEWS

Watch >> US Open LIVE SCORES

Catch up >> US Open ‘Second Service’

Enjoy >> US Open LIVE COMMENTARY

Order >> US Open SPECIAL MAGAZINE

Follow >> Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube

Join >> Tennishead CLUB, the world’s only virtual tennis club