Nice Britain’s hopes of reaching the United Cup semi-finals depend on Katie Boulter beating five-time main champion Iga Swiatek after Billy Harris narrowly misplaced to former Wimbledon semi-finalist Hubert Hurkacz.
Harris, 29, pushed Sixteenth-ranked Hurkacz within the opening match of the best-of-three tie earlier than taking place 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 in Sydney.
The late-blooming Harris, who’s ranked a hundred and twenty fifth on this planet after making large strides up to now two years, was aiming to present Britain a platform to achieve the final 4 with the largest win of his profession.
His defeat means 28-year-old Boulter should beat Swiatek afterward Thursday to tee up a deciding blended doubles match.
Harris has been taking part in as Britain’s main man within the blended gender group occasion with Jack Draper nursing a hip harm and Cameron Norrie taking part in an ATP occasion in Hong Kong.
Whereas he served strongly, Harris was unable to interrupt Hurkacz and fell quick within the decisive moments.
A decent first set noticed neither participant face a break level till the Briton fought off two alternatives for Hurkacz in a tense twelfth sport, finally hanging on to his serve to power a tie-break.
A pricey error from Harris – a miscue lengthy with an overhead – handed an early mini-break to Hurkacz, whose pedigree on the highest stage was demonstrated by the best way he clinically secured the lead.
Regardless of falling behind, Harris confirmed his psychological toughness within the second set. He reset shortly to create three break factors within the second sport, just for Hurkacz to struggle again from 0-40 with 5 large serves getting him out of hassle.
Harris was finally damaged when Hurkacz pounced for a 6-5 lead and, with the wind taken out of the Briton’s sails, the 27-year-old Pole shortly wrapped up victory with a maintain to like.
“I’m tremendous happy, it was a troublesome battle with Billy,” mentioned Hurkacz, whose run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2021 is his finest efficiency at a significant.