Jannik Sinner wins the war versus Hubert Hurkacz but Hurkacz wins the battle

Jannik Sinner proved why he is the No. 1 ranked player on the ATP tour during his run at the Halle Open. He wasn't perfect and had far too many three-set matches, but in the end, no one could beat him. This is the way most of 2024 has gone and there is a reason Sinner has only lost three matches this year.

He is good. He makes few mistakes and rarely beats himself. Sinner has an excellent and consistent serve, hits to tight angles from both wings, and he does not get overly emotional. Unlike a player such as Andrey Rublev, who is highly skilled by beating himself up too much, the Italian keeps his cool and appears to have a high-end self-awareness during points and in between.

This was the case on possibly the best point of the year by any player. Sinner's opponent at the Halle Open was his good friend, Hubert Hurkacz. Hurkacz has a bombastic serve that should allow him to win at a high level on grass courts. This also kept him in the match against the clean-hitting Sinner so that the Italian won the match 7-6(8) 7-6(2).

Jannik Sinner wins the Halle Open but Hubert Hurkacz wins the best point

Hurkacz would have likely beaten most anyone else he faced on Sunday. Sinner was just a tick better than him in the big moments, especially in the high-stress points of the tie-breaks. Two of the players considered favorites at Wimbledon were in excellent form in the Hall Open final.

But Hurkacz won the best point. In the second set with each playing holding serve through the end, the Pole was serving and a few shots into the rally, Sinner hit a ball cross-court that Hurkacz was able to chase down. The only thing the Pole could do with the ball was try to drop it over the net. The ball hit the top of the net and gave Sinner a bigger bounce so that the Italian tried to hit a lob for a winner over Hurkacz.

The Pole then ran back and with his back turned towards Sinner's side of the court, Hurkacz hit a forehand that laced down the line for a winner. Possibly it was part luck, but clearly, Hurkacz had practiced the shot as well. All Sinner could do was applaud. Still, Sinner got the last laugh by winning the lead-up tournament to Wimbledon.

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