Halle final preview and prediction: Sinner vs. Hurkacz

It will be a blockbuster singles final between doubles partners when Jannik Sinner and Hubert Hurkacz battle for the Terra Wortmann Open title on Sunday afternoon.

The head-to-head series is tied up at 2-2, with Hurkacz leading 2-0 on outdoor hard courts while Sinner’s victories have come on an indoor hard court and clay. They most recently faced each other last spring in Monte-Carlo, where the Italian prevailed 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-1. This isn’t their first high-level final showdown; in the championship match of the 2021 Miami Masters it was Hurkacz who triumphed 7-6(4), 6-4.

“You’re maybe my best friend on the tour,” Sinner told Hurkacz during the Miami trophy ceremony.

The two players, who lost in the doubles quarterfinals together earlier this week, will have to set their friendship aside for what should be an awesome finale in Halle. Both guys were among the top title favorites before the tournament began and they have lived up to the billing. Sinner has advanced with wins over Tallon Griekspoor, Fabian Marozsan, Jan-Lennard Struff, and Zhizhen Zhang–the first three of which required three sets. Hurkacz has knocked off Flavio Cobolli, James Duckworth, Marcos Giron, and Alexander Zverev all in straight sets.

Grass obviously gives Hurkacz his best chance in this matchup–and really against any opponent. The ninth-ranked Pole is a former Wimbledon semifinalist (2021) and he is one win away from a second Halle title (previously lifted the trophy in 2022).

Still, the margins are sure to be incredibly small and Sinner’s winning mentality in pressure-packed moments could be the difference. After all, the new world No. 1 has basically forgotten how to lose dating all the way back to last fall. Hurkacz’s lone advantage comes on serve, but Sinner has struck 49 aces compared to just eight double-faults in Halle. A slight edge goes to the top seed.

Pick: Sinner in 3