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Botic vs. Hurkacz: Montreal Live – Kto Zaskoczy?
Hubert Hurkacz vs. Botic van de Zandschulp: A Rematch Five Years in the Making
The Big Picture
Imagine two tennis players who fought an epic four-hour battle five years ago. Now, they’re meeting again on the court. That’s exactly what’s happening at the ATP Montreal tournament (also called the Canadian Open) on Friday, August 7th.
Important Point: This isn’t just any match—it’s a rematch from the 2021 French Open (Roland Garros) where they played a grueling 5-set thriller lasting nearly 4 hours!
Meet the Players
Botic van de Zandschulp (The Dutchman)
- Current Ranking: #70 in the world
- Best Ranking Ever: #22 (achieved in 2022)
- Road to This Match:
- Beat Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (2 sets to 1)
- HUGE UPSET: Beat Daniil Medvedev (former world #1!) 2 sets to 0
Hubert Hurkacz (The Polish Star)
- Current Ranking: #72 in the world
- Best Ranking Ever: #6 (achieved in 2024)
- Road to This Match:
- Beat Marcos Giron (2 sets to 1)
- Beat Alejandro Tabilo (2 sets to 0)
Their History: The 2021 French Open Classic
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Roland Garros (French Open) |
| Round | First Round |
| Date | May 2021 |
| Duration | Nearly 4 hours |
| Result | Van de Zandschulp won 3 sets to 2 |
| Sets | 5 sets total (best of 5 format at Grand Slams) |
ELI5 Explanation: In tennis, Grand Slam tournaments (the 4 biggest events) use best-of-5 sets for men. That means you need to win 3 sets to win the match. Regular tournaments like Montreal use best-of-3 (win 2 sets). So their upcoming match will be shorter!
What’s Happening Right Now (Live Match Update)
The match has already started! Here’s the current score:
Current Match Score
| Set | Van de Zandschulp | Hurkacz | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Set | 3 | 6 | Hurkacz won |
| 2nd Set | 0 | 0 | In Progress |
Key Takeaway: Hurkacz took the first set convincingly (6-3). The second set just started!
Why This Match Matters
For Van de Zandschulp:
- Coming off the biggest win of his recent career (beating Medvedev)
- Trying to prove 2022 wasn’t a fluke
- Playing with confidence after a major upset
For Hurkacz:
- Chance for revenge after losing their only previous meeting
- Former top-10 player looking to climb back up rankings
- Strong serving game (his signature weapon)
How to Watch
Date: Friday, August 7th
Time: Not before 8:15 PM (20:15 local time)
Live Coverage: Follow live text commentary on Przegląd Sportowy Onet
Summary
- Two former top-25 players meeting in Montreal
- Rematch of a 4-hour classic from 2021 French Open
- Van de Zandschulp won that one 3-2 in sets
- Hurkacz leads current match 1 set to 0 (6-3)
- Both players have had impressive runs to reach this round
- Match continues Friday evening — second set underway!
FAQ
Why did their 2021 match take 4 hours?
At Grand Slams like the French Open, men play best-of-5 sets. They split the first 4 sets (2 each), so a decisive 5th set was needed. Long rallies, clay court surface (slower), and evenly matched skills all added time.
What does "not before 20:15" mean?
Tennis schedules depend on previous matches finishing. This match won’t start earlier than 8:15 PM, but could start later if earlier matches run long.
Who is favored to win?
Hurkacz has the edge right now — he won the first set 6-3 and has a higher career ranking peak (#6 vs #22). But Van de Zandschulp just beat Medvedev, so he’s playing great tennis!
What surface are they playing on?
Hard court (Montreal uses outdoor hard courts). This is different from their 2021 clay court match. Hurkacz is generally stronger on hard courts.
How does the scoring work in this tournament?
Montreal is an ATP Masters 1000 event (one level below Grand Slams). Matches are best-of-3 sets — first to win 2 sets wins the match. No marathon 5-setters here!
Final Thought: This is a classic "veteran showdown" — two players who peaked a few years ago, both fighting to climb back up the rankings. Every point matters!
