Roger Federer saw his bid for a ninth Wimbledon title come to a sudden end on Wednesday, as Hubert Hurkacz eliminated the 20-time Grand Slam champion in straight sets in the quarterfinals.
Hurkacz started strong and finished with a flourish, beating Federer 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-0.
Federer had chances in the second set, going up a break before Hurkacz equalized. In the tiebreaker, Hurkacz was up a mini-break when Federer slipped on the line on what appeared to be an easy smash for a winner. That proved to be a turning point in the tiebreaker, which Hurkacz ended up taking 7-5.
Federer has won 10 Grand Slam matches in his career after falling behind by two sets. But Hurkacz dashed any hopes of a comeback in an emphatic third set, blanking Federer to end the match and go through to the Wimbledon semifinals.
“Playing here in front of you guys, the special things [Federer] has done here throughout his career, it’s a special moment,†Hurkacz said in his post-match press conference. “Super proud and super happy to be here, playing here on grass is super special. Can’t wait for the next one!â€
Federer came into the match as a -275 favorite over the No. 14-seeded Hurkacz, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Hurkacz showed he could beat elite players in the fourth round, however, as he knocked off Daniil Medvedev to eliminate the No. 2 seed.
After the victory, Hurkacz now stands as a +1000 pick to win Wimbledon. He’ll play the winner of the quarterfinal between Matteo Berrettini and Felix Auger Aliassime. Novak Djokovic remains the overwhelming pick to win the tournament at -380 after knocking off Marton Fucsovics in straight sets to reach the semifinals.
