Hurkacz Advances to Face Zhang in Marseille ATP 250 Showdown

MARSEILLE, France — Hubert Hurkacz is set to compete against Zhizhen Zhang in the second round of the ATP 250 tournament in Marseille on February 13, 2025, after Zhang overcame Frenchman Quentin Halys in his opening match.

Zhang, currently ranked 52nd globally, secured his spot in the second round with a hard-fought 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-3) victory over Halys. Meanwhile, Hurkacz, the fourth seed in the tournament, received a bye in the first round.

Hurkacz has previously faced Zhang four times, winning three of those encounters. The Polish player, ranked 20th in the ATP standings, aims to leverage this experience against the Chinese player as he looks to progress further in the tournament.

After a strong performance at the Rotterdam Open, where he reached the semifinals before falling to Carlos Alcaraz, Hurkacz demonstrated that he is in prime form. “Hubert played exceptionally well against Alcaraz, competing with him as an equal. It was one of the best matches of the season for Alcaraz, but Hurkacz held his ground,” commented a source close to Hurkacz.

The 28-year-old Hurkacz’s performance indicates a significant recovery from earlier challenges faced during the Australian Open. With the opportunity to re-enter the top ranks of the ATP standings, a victory over Zhang could pave the way for a potential quarterfinal matchup against the winner of the second-round match between Nuno Borges and Zizou Bergs.

“This could be a pivotal match for Hubert to regain momentum in the tournament,” noted a local sports analyst. “If he can maintain this level of play, he could certainly find himself challenging for the title.”

The match is expected to attract considerable attention as both players are among the tournament favorites. Fans can stream live updates and scores at Polsatsport.pl as the match kicks off around 4:10 PM local time.