Hubert Hurkacz commenced his campaign at the Mutua Madrid Open with a solid performance, defeating Jaime Faria with a score of 6-3, 6-3 in a match held on Wednesday afternoon. This victory marks the Polish player’s first outing under the guidance of his new coach, Gilles Cervara, who has recently transitioned from coaching Daniil Medvedev.
Although neither Hurkacz nor Cervara formally announced their collaboration ahead of the clay-court season, they were spotted practicing together earlier in the week, suggesting that the partnership was already in motion. Cervara has a notable coaching history, having worked with Medvedev for eight years, during which time Medvedev ascended to the No. 1 ranking and clinched the 2021 U.S. Open title, along with numerous Grand Slam finals appearances.
Cervara’s coaching stint with Medvedev concluded after the 2025 U.S. Open. Before teaming up with Hurkacz, he had a brief period working with Nishesh Basavareddy, a collaboration that started at the NextGen ATP Finals in 2025 but was short-lived, resulting in their split announced just a few days ago on April 5.
Looking ahead, Hurkacz is set to face Lorenzo Musetti in the second round on Friday, as he aims to build on this promising start to his Madrid campaign. This match will be a crucial test for both players as they seek to advance further in this prestigious Masters 1000 event.
