The emergence of a 'dark horse' promising a major surprise at the 2026 Australian Open

The inaugural Grand Slam event of the year is set to start on January 18th at Melbourne Park, Australia.

After a long period of struggles, Hubert Hurkacz is gradually showing the image of a player ready to cause a big upset at the 2026 Australian Open. His impressive performance at the recent United Cup strongly confirms that the Polish star has truly overcome the darkest phase of his career.

Last season, Hurkacz was almost "absent" from major tournaments due to a persistent knee injury. The continuous pain prevented the former world No. 6 from competing at his best and forced him to make a tough decision: surgery and a temporary break from top-level tennis. Born in 1997, the player took nearly 7 months off professional competition, patiently recovering rather than risking an early comeback.

Hurkacz’s return at the United Cup surprised many. The Polish player competed confidently and agilely, achieving 4 wins out of 5 matches. Most notably, he convincingly defeated world No. 3 Alexander Zverev. In this match, the new generation "Serving Machine" not only outperformed technically but also scored highly for his composure, refraining from reacting to his opponent’s unrestrained behavior.

"I am almost speechless. I am very happy for myself and for my country. We have proven that Poland is a formidable force in world tennis. I am proud of the team and grateful to every member; we enjoyed every moment of this tournament.", Hurkacz shared after leading Poland to victory at the 2026 United Cup.

The 2026 Australian Open will officially begin at Melbourne Park on January 18th. Entering the first Grand Slam of the year with a relaxed mindset and without heavy pressure for results, Hurkacz is regarded as a promising "dark horse." If he maintains his form and improves his fitness, the Polish player could become a genuine threat to any championship contender in Melbourne this year.