Hubert Hurkacz ready for Australian Open debut, targets top-50 ranking

Polish rising star Hubert Hurkacz hopes he wont return to the Canberra Challenger next year as he targets to be ranked inside the top-50 in a year from now. The 21-year-old beat Ilya Ivashka in the Canberra final 6-4 4-6 6-2 to give himself great boost confidence ahead of his Australian Open debut.

The Pole also beat Chun Hsin Tseng, Tak Khunn Wang, Tristan Lamasine and Jiri Vesely on his way to winning the Canberra title. Hurkacz, ranked at No. 88 in the world, is set to improve to No. 76 in the world. This week has given me a lot of confidence going to Melbourne.

Winning a title in one of the first weeks of the year is always good and I played some great matches, Hurkacz said after beating Ivashka, per The Sydney Morning Herald. Canberra is a great city but obviously Im hoping Ill be in the top 50 next year [and play elsewhere] but you never know.

Hurkacz has been drawn to meet Ivo Karlovic in the Australian Open first round. In their lone meeting, the Pole beat the big-serving Croat in last years Cincinnati Masters qualifying final round 7-6 (3) 7-6 (4).

Hurkacz said he thinks he can win and that it is going to be a tough match. Ill need to make some returns, for sure. Ive played him before, we had a close match and I won but this one is going to be different being best of five, Hurkacz added.

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