HUBERT Hurkacz has booked his spot in the Montreal ATP Masters 1000 final and will attempt to keep his unbeaten record in ATP Tour finals alive when he takes on Pablo Carreno Busta. The Polish eighth seed knocked off fourth seed Casper Ruud in a come-from-behind victory 5-7 6-3 6-2 to reach the final in a match that lasted two hours and two minutes.

Hurkacz slammed home 18 aces to the Norwegian’s eight, while only serving one double fault. He won 81 and 43 per cent of his first and second serve points, fighting back from a set down to secure the three-set win over the world number seven. His five converted break points to three – of which four came in the last two sets – was crucial in determining the result. Hurkacz has won five titles from five finals in a remarkable ray of consistency, and will be favourite up against the unseeded Spaniard Carreno Busta,

“I just try to give myself the best chance,” Hurkacz said post-match. “I just try to compete as hard as I can, be as well prepared as I can. I was fortunate to win the first few finals. But tomorrow is going to be a new match. It’s going to be a very tricky one.” 

Carreno Busta reached the decider after a grinding three-hour battle against Great Britain’s Daniel Evans. The first two sets were a tight tussle before the Spaniard pulled clear in the decider to win 7-5 6-7 6-2. He won 79 and 50 per cent of his first and second serve points off a 62 per cent clip, and broke five times to two during the match.

In Toronto, the remarkable run of Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia continued with a straight sets win over 14th seed Karolina Pliskova. Haddad Maia has taken some big scalps this tournament – including that of world number one Iga Swiatek – and reached the final to win her third career title, of which would also be her third this season. Entering the Top 20 for the first time, the Brazilian defeated the Czech 6-4 7-6 and will take on experienced campaigner Simona Halep in the final. Halep equalled Serena Williams‘ record for the most WTA Tour 1000 finals at 18 after achieving the feat. She had to come from behind to knock off seventh seed American Jessica Pegula, 2-6 6-3 6-4.

“[Halep is] a champion,” Haddad Maia said post-match. “She’s a person who works very hard. I know it will be a very tough battle, but I’m going to enjoy. “I’m going to leave everything on the court.

“I will try to play aggressive. “I learned a lot today because in the moments that I wasn’t too aggressive, [Pliskova] was playing better than me. … I want to improve that for tomorrow. So I’m going to try to enjoy and play point by point.”

AROUND THE TOUR RESULTS:

Montreal – ATP 1000 | Hard

Semi-Finals:

[8] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) defeated [4] Casper Ruud (NOR) 5-7 6-3 6-2
Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) defeated Daniel Evans (GBR) 7-5 6-7 6-2

Toronto – WTA 1000 | Hard

Semi-Finals:

[15] Simona Halep (ROU) defeated [7] Jessica Pegula (USA) 2-6 6-3 6-4
Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) defeated [14] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 6-4 7-6