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Match Details
Fixture: Marcos Giron vs (2) Hubert Hurkacz
Date: September 25, 2024
Tournament: 2024 Japan Open
Round: First Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, Japan
Category: ATP 500
Surface: Hard (Outdoor)
Prize Money: $1,818,380
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - DAZN
Marcos Giron vs Hubert Hurkacz preview
Marcos Giron will square off against second seed Hubert Hurkacz in a blockbuster first-round clash at the 2024 Japan Open on Wednesday, September 25.
Giron enters Tokyo with a 20-21 match record for the year, along with one title at the Hall of Fame Open in Newport, where he achieved an emphatic comeback victory against compatriot Alex Michelsen.
Despite a relatively successful first half of the season, Giron has struggled to find his best form since Newport. He has since lost three consecutive first-round matches in Montreal, Cincinnati, and most recently at the US Open, where he fell to Alex de Minaur in a topsy-turvy four-setter.
Hurkacz heads into Tokyo with a 39-17 match record for the year. He has won one title in Estoril, where he defeated Pedro Martinez in straight sets. He also made the final in Halle where he went down to top seed Jannik Sinner.
Hurkacz by his lofty standards had a subdued North American hardcourt swing, losing in the quarterfinals in both Montreal and Cincinnati and suffering a second-round defeat at the US Open to Jordan Thompson.
Marcos Giron vs Hubert Hurkacz head-to-head
Hubert Hurkacz leads Marcos Giron 2-0 in their head-to-head. He won their previous encounter 7-6 (5), 6-4 in Halle earlier this year.
Marcos Giron vs Hubert Hurkacz odds
(Odds to be added once available)
Marcos Giron vs Hubert Hurkacz prediction
Both Marcos Giron and Hubert Hurkacz had decent first halves of the season but have struggled since the start of the North American hardcourt swing. The Pole has had a better run recently, but he has also suffered a couple of disappointing defeats due to his inability to land the decisive blow.
Giron has been in a rut lately, failing to secure a single win in his last three matches. Aside from a couple of good runs in Dallas and Delray Beach at the start of the year, his form on hardcourts has been average otherwise, as reflected by his 8-10 match record. Hurkacz has also struggled on the surface this season, compiling a paltry 20-11 record so far. Most of his success has come on clay and grass courts.
Heading into the encounter, Hurkacz boasts a superior career hardcourt index with an average of 0.609, compared to Giron's 1.468. The Pole has also won six titles on the surface, while Giron has not won any.
While we can expect a tight encounter between the two, Hurkacz should come out on top due to his superior experience. The slightly slower and more rugged courts in Japan should also favor his playing style.
Pick: Hurkacz in three sets.
