Hubert Hurkacz Wins the Halle Open, Beating Medvedev

Vegan tennis star Hubert Hurkacz has won the Halle Open, and he made the world No. 1 look ordinary doing it. The Pole beat Daniil Medvedev 6-1, 6-4 in the final on the German grass today.

Hurkacz broke early in both sets and served brilliantly throughout. Early in the second set, after another break, Medvedev's coach Gilles Cervara picked up his bag and left the stands. On the way to the final, Hurkacz beat Maxime Cressy, defending champion Ugo Humbert, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Nick Kyrgios.

It's his first title of the year and the first ATP 500 title of his career. He has now won the first five tour finals he has played, something only six other men have managed in the Open Era. Typically, he gave the credit to his opponent:

Daniil is an unbelievable player, he’s the best player in the world. It’s very tricky to play him and all the shots went my way at the beginning. I’m super excited. I’ve been waiting a little bit for the first win this year, and happy to win my first 500 title, and obviously on the grass it’s very special.

Hurkacz, 25, has followed a vegan diet for several years. He has admitted that as a child he didn't like salad or most vegetables, which makes him a decent advert for how tastes change. On grass, where a big serve and quick recovery between points count for so much, he looks right at home.

The timing is good, too. Wimbledon starts in eight days, and this is the surface where he reached the semi-finals last year.

Last year we covered Hurkacz winning the Miami Open, Poland's first Masters 1000 title, then beating Roger Federer at Wimbledon. Fellow plant-based star Novak Djokovic clinched a record seventh year-end No. 1 in November.

The world No. 1, beaten in straight sets. Powered by plants.