Hubert Hurkacz wants to create more Wimbledon memories three years on from defeating Roger Federer.
In 2021 the Pole took to centre court to face the Swiss Maestro in the quarter-finals at the All England Club in what was his best result at a Grand Slam at that time.
Despite a packed centre court crowd all cheering for Federer, the 27-year-old overcame the odds to defeat the eight-time Wimbledon winner in straight sets and advance to what is still his only Grand Slam semi-final.
Three years on, now at a career high ranking, the 27-year-old is one of the dark horses at SW19.
What did Hubert Hurkacz say about playing Roger Federer at Wimbledon?
Neither Hurkacz nor the fans knew that his victory over Federer would be the 20-time Grand Slam champion’s final professional singles match.
It was a proud moment for the player to secure such a big win and while it lives long in his memory, the world number seven wants to be remembered for more than the man who played Federer in the last match of his illustrious career.
“Hopefully, I could do some good things in the future so I’ll be remembered for more than winning against Roger,” Hurkacz told The Guardian.
“But it was just really special to play on the Centre Court with Roger, just to feel the atmosphere. It was crazy loud. I never experienced anything like that before and I am glad I was able to do it. It was stressful but I was also very excited.
“Growing up as a kid, I was always looking up to Roger, he was my idol. He won so many times at Wimbledon and having a chance to play with him there on this unique court, that was something I always wanted to do.”
What was Hubert Hurkacz and Roger Federer’s head to head record?
The 2021 Wimbledon quarter-final was not the only time Hurkacz and Federer played against one another.
Their previous meeting came back in 2019 at BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells. They squared off in the last eight and Federer scored a 6-4, 6-4. He went on to reach the final where he lost to Dominic Thiem.
The pair’s rivalry ended at one win apiece and after losing to Hurkacz, Federer came to the devastating realisation that his body would no longer allow him to compete at the top level.
“At the end of that match was one of the worst moments of my career because I really felt awful,” he said back in 2022. “It was over, the knee was gone, and then knowing I had to face the media right afterwards in a short amount of time was really hard.
“But for me, it is what it is. You know you can’t turn back the time and go, oh, we should have changed this. So be it. “
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