Italian media outlets have identified Polish tennis player Hubert Hurkacz as the primary threat to defending champion Jannik Sinner at the Wimbledon Championships.
The warning comes ahead of Hurkacz's fourth-round match on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
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Hurkacz's Path to Sinner
According to a report by sport. pl, Hurkacz is scheduled to face Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff.
The winner will advance toward a potential quarterfinal matchup against Sinner.
Hurkacz secured his spot in the fourth round by defeating seeded players Casper Ruud and Tommy Paul.
La Gazzetta dello Sport emphasized Hurkacz's previous success on grass courts. The Italian newspaper recalled his 2021 semifinal appearance, where he lost to Matteo Berrettini.
"If Sinner wins, he will face in the quarterfinals not Medvedev, but one of the pair Struff or Hubert Hurkacz," the Italian press stated.
"The Pole, a 2021 tournament semifinalist and a grass-court specialist, eliminated Tommy Paul and on paper represents the most difficult obstacle."
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However, the outlet noted that Hurkacz is returning after a long injury.
"He is no longer the top-10 player admired until recently, nor the one who five years ago brushed against the Wimbledon final," the report added.
Struff's Upset Run
Struff reached the fourth round after defeating 2023 semifinalist Daniil Medvedev in three sets.
He also won consecutive five-set matches against Sebastian Baez and Brandon Nakashima in the earlier rounds.
Head-to-head records on the ATP Tour show Hurkacz leading Struff with two victories out of their three previous meetings.
The upcoming match is scheduled on Court 2 as the third event of the day.
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Play begins at 12:00, with both competitors expected to take the court at approximately 16:00.
