ATP Tour

Struff makes history as Hurkacz retires in fifth set of Wimbledon R4

Jan-Lennard Struff became the oldest man in the Open Era to reach his first major quarter-final on Sunday, when Hubert Hurkacz retired in the fifth set of their fourth-round clash at Wimbledon.

The 36-year-old Struff trailed Hurkacz by two sets to none on No. 2 Court before beginning to mount an incredible comeback. Hurkacz, who called for multiple medical timeouts, broke serve in the first game of the fifth but eventually retired with Struff leading 3-6, 6-7(5), 7-6(2), 7-5, 4-2.

“Hubi is one of the nicest guys on Tour, for me. To end it like that is a pity,” Struff said in his on-court interview. “I felt like in the fourth set, his service speed went a bit down. After he got treatment, it was very difficult in the fifth set. He broke me with unbelievable shots. I need to stay focused, but first, all the best to Hubi.”

Two years ago, Hurkacz retired in the second round at Wimbledon against Arthur Fils, when the Pole dove for a ball and tore his meniscus before requiring surgery.

"We're trying to find out," Hurkacz said in his post-match press conference when asked about what the injury was. "Probably small problem with the muscle. Just trying to do diagnosis and then we will proceed from there. "It's difficult. It's just. We're pushing and trying our best, and think I was playing quite well. [It] just wasn't my day."

Struff earned five-set wins over Sebastian Baez and Brandon Nakashima before defeating eighth seed Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in the third round. After advancing past Hurkacz in three hours, 36 minutes, the World No. 74 Struff awaits defending champion Jannik Sinner or qualifier Shintaro Mochizku in the last eight.

“It’s just incredible, I would say,” Struff said. “36 years old… Fourth round [for the] first time. Quarter-finals of a Grand Slam [for the] first time. You should never give up.”