Dominic Thiem has labelled Hubert Hurkacz as one of the best players in the world ahead of their quarter-final clash in Antwerp.
The former US Open champion had to work hard to reach the last eight in Belgium with the Austrian defeating Francisco Cerundolo 6-1 1-6 7-5.
Thiem made a good start to the match before conceding the second set in easy fashion.
Cerundolo had the advantage in the final set when he broke for a 4-3 lead before Thiem roared back to win four of the last five games.
After his win Thiem admitted he got lucky today but is proud of the hard work he’s put in practice, “That’s why I work hard every day, to be able after two hours with a very close score, to play good shots, to play good tennis, because that is when it matters most,” Thiem told the ATP website.
“At 6-5 in the third, you have to come up with good tennis to be able to bring the match over the finish line, and luckily today it was my turn. It’s always difficult and interesting to play somebody two weeks in a row.
“It’s a little bit strange, but I came out playing really good, 6-1 in the first set, but I know that he is a great player so it was obvious in mind also that It was not going to continue that way.
“Then I had a bad start to the second set, he took advantage, he came into the net… and the third set was an open game, 50/50. When I was a break down, luckily straightaway [I broke back]. It was a very intense and close match.”
Thiem will now face top seed Hubert Hurkacz in the last eight with the Pole knocking out Jack Draper on Wednesday.
Hurkacz beat Thiem fairly comfortably in Metz a few week ago and the Austrian has labelled Hurkacz as one of the best in the world heading into the match, “[I’m] 0-3 against him,” Thiem told the ATP website.
“For two years he has been [one of] the world’s best, especially indoors. Unbelievable serve, we just played three or four weeks ago in Metz, where he had a pretty easy win against me, and I hope I can make it more difficult for him tomorrow and be able to make another step ahead.”
The other match in the top half of the draw will see Sebastian Korda take on Yoshihito Nishioka with all quarter-finals taking place on Friday.
