Hubert Hurkacz saves three set points before clinching Marseille crown over Benjamin Bonzi

From one foot out of the tournament to being crowned champion.

It’s the abridged explanation of Hubert Hurkacz’s week in Marseille. On Sunday, the top seed defeated home favorite Benjamin Bonzi, 6-3, 7-6 (4), in front of a lively crowd to claim his sixth career title and first of the year at the Open 13 Provence. Hurkacz denied the Frenchman three set points to avoid playing a decider.

Before getting to Sunday’s final tilt, the top seed was on the verge of exiting in the quarterfinals. During that stage, Hurkacz saved a match point to survive Mikael Ymer, 7-6 (6), in the third.

Against Bonzi, Hurkacz recovered from seeing his initial break advantage wiped away by holding steady in a 31-shot rally to earn the re-break for 5-3. He sealed the one-set lead with a convincing serve +1 forehand combination.

Neither player managed to break in set two, though both had opportunities. While Hurkacz saw two chances go the waste in the seventh game, it was Bonzi’s trio of missed opportunities with a 6-5 lead that ultimately ensured this remained a two-set clash.

Unable to replicate the hot shot tweener pass from his semifinal win over Alexander Bublik, Hurkacz responded by erasing the first set point with a brilliant forehand crosscourt flick winner. The Pole saved the next two with an ace out wide and another bomb near the same serve target that quickly set up a forehand finish.

Hurkacz raced out to a 3-0 lead in the tiebreak and never looked back. The world No. 11 wrapped up his day of work with 19 aces and a 41 for 44 success rate when he made his first serve.

Bonzi finished runner-up for the second time this season, having begun 2023 by making his ATP final debut in Pune.