Dubai Tennis Championships 2023: Andy Murray vs Hubert Hurkacz preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (5) Hubert Hurkacz vs Andy Murray.
Date: February 28, 2023.
Tournament: Dubai Tennis Championships.
Round: First round (Round of 32).
Venue: Aviation Club Tennis Center, Dubai.
Category: ATP 500.
Surface: Outdoor hard court.
Prize money: $3,020,525.
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video.
Andy Murray vs Hubert Hurkacz preview
Andy Murray will face fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz in the first round of the 2023 Dubai Tennis Championships.
Murray has produced some promising performances so far this season and was sensational during the Qatar Open last week. The Scot started the tournament with a hard-fought win over Lorenzo Sonego after saving three match points. He followed this up with a 7-6(5), 2-6, 7-5 win over Alexander Zverev before beating Alexandre Muller 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 to book his place in the semifinals.
Here, Murray faced Jiri Lehecka and saved three match points before defeating him 6-0, 3-6, 7-6(6). The Scot took on third seed Daniil Medvedev in the final and lost 6-4, 6-4.
Hurkacz also enjoyed a tremendous week as he impressed in Marseille. The Pole entered the Open 13 Provence as the top seed and this received a bye to the second round. Here, he came back from a set down to defeat Leandro Reidi 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The Pole then beat Mikael Ymer 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(6) to set up a semifinal clash against Alexander Bublik. He triumphed 6-4, 7-6(4) over the Kazakh to book his place in the final. Here, Hurkacz took on local boy Benjamin Bonzi and beat him 6-3, 7-6(4) to win his sixth ATP singles title.
Andy Murray vs Hubert Hurkacz head-to-head
Hurkacz leads 2-1 in the head-to-head against Murray. The last meeting between the two came in the first round of the 2021 Erste Bank Open in Vienna, with Murray winning 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3.
Andy Murray vs Hubert Hurkacz odds
All odds are sourced from BETMGM.
Andy Murray vs Hubert Hurkacz prediction
Hurkacz will enter the match as the favorite to win given his ranking and recent win in Marseille. That said, Murray should not be written off after his run to the final of the Qatar Open in Doha.
The Scot is a solid counterpuncher but can switch from defense to offense swiftly. His serve and powerful groundstrokes will come in handy and his return game will no doubt be put to the test by Hurkacz.
The Pole has effective groundstrokes but his serve is a formidable weapon. He served 72 aces at the Open 13 Provence and will look to serve more of those against Murray. Like the Scot, Hurkacz also deploys a counterpunching style but can always play more aggressively.
Eventually, it will come down to whichever player is more composed on the court. Hurkacz is the higher-ranked player but Murray's experience and mentality might see him edge out the Pole and reach the second round of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Pick: Murray to win in three sets.