Estoril Open: Hurkacz overcames Martinez to lift eight career title

Hubert Hurkacz deployed his booming delivery to great effect Sunday at the Millennium Estoril Open, where he overcame Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-4 in the championship match to lift his eighth ATP Tour title.

Hurkacz sent down 15 aces in a classy one-hour, 27-minute display as he stepped into the winners’ circle at a tour-level event on clay for the first time.

“I’m so happy with my performance today,” said Hurkacz. “I’m proud that I found my serve and that definitely helped me a lot. Pedro is such a great competitor, an amazing battle last night. I needed to play really great tennis to compete with him and fortunately I did it.”

“Obviously it is something special to play in a final,” said Hurkacz after improving to 8-2 in ATP Tour finals. “There was such a great crowd, a great atmosphere and I just really appreciate all the support. It’s an amazing tournament and it was so fun to be here for a week.”

Hurkacz will on Monday rise two spots to a joint-career high No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings as a result of his Estoril title run. The 27-year-old will now be full of confidence as he heads to the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, where his opening opponent will be Jack Draper.