Benjamin Bonzi lost in two sets against Hubert Hurkacz in the final of the ATP tournament in Marseille. The Pole wins the fifth title of his career, the second in France.
Benjamin Bonzi could not go after his dream. As in January against Tallon Griekspoor in Pune, the Habs had to lose in the final of the ATP tournament in Marseille against Hubert Hurkacz, seeded number 1. If the two players started this meeting on the piano, the Pole has very quickly gained the upper hand in the exchange, which materialized at the end of the fourth game. After missing a first break point, Hubert Hurkacz had the last word on the second, thus leading three games to one . Nevertheless, Benjamin Bonzi had not said his last word.
If the 11th in the world confirmed his break on a white game, he could not keep it for long. Seizing his chance in the seventh game, the Frenchman erased his late service game but was then unable to counter Hubert Hurkacz’s backfire. Indeed, in the process, the Pole once again pushed his opponent back to take his service. The seeded number 1 then only needed one opportunity to seal the fate of this first round.
Hubi’s haul hits six 🏆
A memorable week for @HubertHurkaczedging Bonzi 6-3, 7-6(4) for the Marseille trophy@Open13 | #open13provence pic.twitter.com/mkIal4jaCf
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 26, 2023
Hurkacz stronger than Bonzi
The second started more evenly, with not a single break point to report throughout the first six games. It was then Hubert Hurkacz who did not go far from turning the set in his favor in the often important seventh game. However, with pride, Benjamin Bonzi dismissed the two break points he had to face and held his service. At the gates of the decisive game, the Habs did not go far from enjoying one of the rare moments of feverishness of the 11th player in the world. Assuming three break points, which were then one-inning equalizers everywhere, Benjamin Bonzi was unable to convert one.
He therefore found himself taken into a tiebreak whose fate was decided from the first point. Hubert Hurkacz immediately took the lead and never let go. While the serving player has won all subsequent points, it was on the first match point that the Pole put an end to the suspense (6-3, 7-6 in 1h32 ‘). The 11th in the world thus won the fifth title of his career, the second in France after Metz in 2021. With this second final of the season, Benjamin Bonzi will jump up the ATP rankings to enter the Top 50 just behind Richard Gasquet.
