Nice Britain’s hopes of reaching the United Cup semi-finals depend on Katie Boulter beating five-time main champion Iga Swiatek after Billy Harris narrowly misplaced to former Wimbledon semi-finalist Hubert Hurkacz.
Harris, 29, pushed Sixteenth-ranked Hurkacz within the opening match of the best-of-three tie earlier than happening 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 in Sydney.
The late-blooming Harris, who’s ranked one hundred and twenty fifth on this planet after making big strides up to now two years, was aiming to present Britain a platform to achieve the final 4 with the largest win of his profession.
His defeat means 28-year-old Boulter should beat Swiatek in a while Thursday to tee up a deciding blended doubles match.
Harris has been enjoying as Britain’s main man within the blended gender staff occasion with Jack Draper nursing a hip harm and Cameron Norrie enjoying an ATP occasion in Hong Kong.
Whereas he served strongly, Harris was unable to interrupt Hurkacz and fell quick within the decisive moments.
A good first set noticed neither participant face a break level till the Briton fought off two alternatives for Hurkacz in a tense twelfth sport, ultimately hanging on to his serve to power a tie-break.
A pricey error from Harris – a miscue lengthy with an overhead – handed an early mini-break to Hurkacz, whose pedigree on the highest stage was demonstrated by the best way he clinically secured the lead.
Regardless of falling behind, Harris confirmed his psychological toughness within the second set. He reset rapidly to create three break factors within the second sport, just for Hurkacz to combat again from 0-40 with 5 big serves getting him out of bother.
Harris was ultimately damaged when Hurkacz pounced for a 6-5 lead and, with the wind taken out of the Briton’s sails, the 27-year-old Pole rapidly wrapped up victory with a maintain to like.
“I’m tremendous happy, it was a tough battle with Billy,” stated Hurkacz, whose run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2021 is his greatest efficiency at a significant.
