"The cutest and nicest dude on tour" - Bianca Andreescu & Rennae Stubbs gush over Hubert Hurkacz's gesture to Thanasi Kokkinakis after Miami thriller
Rennae Stubbs and Bianca Andreescu praised Hubert Hurkacz for apologizing to Thanasi Kokkinakis' box after beating him in the Miami Open.
Hurkacz and Kokkinakis played one of the matches of the 2023 season in the second round of the Miami Open. The former booked his place in the third round of the Masters 1000 tournament with a 6-7(10), 7-6(7), 7-6(6) win over the Aussie. He saved five match points before edging out Kokkinakis.
Hurkacz showed a touch of class after the match as he apologized to Kokkinakis' box after defeating him. The Pole was lauded for this gesture by many, including Bianca Andreescu and former doubles World No. 1 Rennae Stubbs.
Andreescu and Stubbs were both impressed with the quality of the match, with the latter calling the fixture fantastic and Hurkacz the "nicest player on tour."
"This match between @TKokkinakis and @HubertHurkacz is fantastic," Stubbs tweeted.
"And Both such nice guys! I mean @HubertHurkacz looked at @TKokkinakis coach and said I’m sorry!!! Because he won and felt bad for them!!! I mean honestly! If he doesn’t win the award for nicest player on tour i don’t know who should," the Aussie added to her tweet.
This match between @TKokkinakis and @HubertHurkacz is fantastic
And Both such nice guys! I mean @HubertHurkacz looked at @TKokkinakis coach and said I’m sorry!!! Because he won and felt bad for them!!! I mean honestly! If he doesn’t win the award for nicest player on tour i don’t know who should!!!
Andreescu also praised the World No. 9 for his actions.
"The way Hubi apologized to Kokkinakis box aww," the Canadian tweeted.
The way Hubi apologized to Kokkinakis box aww
Stubbs responded to Andreescu's tweet by calling Hurkacz the "cutest and nicest dude on tour".
"Omg i can’t believe that either!!!! I mean if he’s not the cutest & nicest dude on tour, i don’t know who is," the Aussie wrote.
@Bandreescu_ Omg i can’t believe that either!!!! I mean if he’s not the cutest & nicest dude on tour, i don’t know who is!
Hubert Hurkacz will face Adrian Mannarino in Miami Open 2023 third round
After edging out Thanasi Kokkinakis, Hubert Hurkacz will face World No. 62 Adrian Mannarino in the third round of the 2023 Miami Open. The Frenchman booked his place in the Round of 32 with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 win over 32nd seed Ben Shelton in the second round.
Hurkacz and Mannarino will lock horns for the fourth time on the ATP tour, with the Pole leading 2-1 in the head-to-head. The last meeting between the two came in the first round of the 2022 Paris Masters, where Hurkacz won 7-6(5), 6-4.
The winner of the match will take on either Christopher Eubanks or Gregoire Barrere in the fourth round.