Before the United Cup, former World No. 9 Nicolas Massu had a heartfelt conversation with his player, Hubert Hurkacz. The Polish tennis star was preparing for his first tournament in seven months following knee surgery in July. Massu’s message was simple yet profound: “Enjoy the competition again,” he advised. “Look back at where you’ve been, and all that you passed already in the past seven months. You deserve to be here. Appreciate that. Enjoy the moment. Go step by step, not thinking too much about the results.”
Hurkacz has since made a triumphant return in Sydney, securing straight-sets victories against World No. 3 Alexander Zverev and Tallon Griekspoor, propelling Poland to the quarter-finals of the mixed-teams event. “I’m really, really happy because we had difficult times. And when you are out of competition seven months — it is a lot of time — you need to be patient,” Massu expressed.
Overcoming Adversity: The Road to Recovery
The journey back to the court was not without its challenges. Hurkacz, who has undergone knee surgery in two consecutive seasons, faced a daunting recovery process. “It’s not easy to maintain the faith all the time because the days are long, it’s a lot of treatment, a lot of recovery,” Massu noted. “But at the same time, I’m totally convinced — because I had this in my so many years of Tour, so many years in tennis — that at some point, if you keep strong and you believe and you work hard, you deserve it.”
Hurkacz’s commitment to his rehabilitation was unwavering. From training in Marbella and Malaga to Monaco and Poland, he dedicated himself to regaining his form. Massu praised his player’s dedication, noting, “It’s incredible, the work ethic of Hubi. He follows everything 100 per cent. If he has to do this, he does that and more.”
The Importance of Patience and Perseverance
For Hurkacz, recovery was a daily grind of early mornings and late nights filled with hard work, pain, and fatigue. Massu, drawing from his own experiences, emphasized the importance of perseverance. “My experience from my life and from my tennis career is that everything that is strong against you or sometimes it is dark, at the end of the tunnel, you see the light,” he said. “You need to keep the faith.”
Massu returned to Chile for about three months before resuming on-court training with Hurkacz in Europe. They approached the process cautiously, prioritizing the advice of doctors and physiotherapists. “Everything that we needed to do, we were doing, and we were listening to the right people,” Massu explained.
Hurkacz’s Versatility and Future Prospects
Despite the setbacks, Hurkacz’s serve has remained a formidable weapon, evidenced by his 42 aces across four sets and facing just one break point against top-tier opponents. “It’s a big talent,” Massu remarked. “Also for sure he works a lot. He put a lot of focus there.”
Massu also highlighted Hurkacz’s all-around capabilities. Standing at 6’5″, the World No. 83 is more than just a powerful server. “I think that he’s a very complete player. I still believe that he can play even on clay the same level as on hard court,” Massu said. “And of course, we need to improve some little details that can bring him again to fight in the top of the top. But the most important is the health, I still believe that if he’s healthy, we can achieve good things.”
As Hurkacz continues his comeback, Massu remains optimistic about his player’s potential. “I always believe that nothing is impossible if you maintain the work ethic, if you maintain your positive mind,” he affirmed. “At some point, you will recover.”
Hurkacz’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience and dedication, serving as an inspiration to athletes facing similar adversities. As he looks to maintain his impressive form in Sydney, the tennis world watches in anticipation of what lies ahead for this determined athlete.
