United Cup 2025: Casper Ruud vs Hubert Hurkacz preview, head-to-head, prediction & pick

Match Details

Fixture: Casper Ruud vs Hubert Hurkacz

Date: December 30, 2024

Tournament: United Cup 2025

Round: Group stage

Venue: Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney, Australia

Category: United Cup

Surface: Hard

Prize Money: $11,170,000

Live Telecast: Tennis Channel (USA) | TSN, RDS (Canada) | Sky Sports (UK)

---

Casper Ruud vs Hubert Hurkacz preview

Casper Ruud will lock horns with Hubert Hurkacz as Norway and Poland face off in a Group B tie at the United Cup on Monday.

Ruud had gotten his new season and the United Cup campaign off to a winning start against Tomas Machac. The Norwegian fought his way to a hard-earned 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-4 victory.

The highest-ranked men's player in the competition, Ruud is a big threat to the rest of the field. He is coming off of a solid 2024, where he reached five finals, taking home the trophy on two occasions.

Hurkacz had helped Poland reach last year's final. (Source: Getty)

Hurkacz, meanwhile, will look to rebuild after losing steam in the second half of the season. The Pole, who was ranked as high as No. 6 at the start of the year, has fallen out of the top-10 after a poor run since injuring himself at Wimbledon in July.

The lanky 27-year-old is still very dangerous, especially on the quick Australian hardcourts. He was not only instrumental in helping his side make the 2024 United Cup final, but also reached the Australian Open quarterfinals.

---

Casper Ruud vs Hubert Hurkacz head-to-head

Ruud leads Hurkacz in their current head-to-head with a slender 2-1 margin. He also took their most recent meeting, which came at the Monte Carlo Masters, with relative ease 6-4, 6-2.

---

Casper Ruud vs Hubert Hurkacz odds

Players	Moneyline	Handicap	Total Games
Casper Ruud
Hubert Hurkacz

(Odds will be updated when available)

---

Casper Ruud vs Hubert Hurkacz prediction

Ruud has already won a match at the United Cup. (Source: Getty)

Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkacz are polar opposites when it comes to playing styles. While the former relies on his steady baseline game to wear his opponents down, the latter prefers high-risk tennis.

Playing in quick conditions, Hurkacz should have an edge but there's a big question mark around his fitness level given his recent struggles with injury. He will nonetheless look to take on the role of the aggressor.

Ruud has troubled the Pole in the past with his tenacity and was a straight-sets victor in their most recent match at the Monte Carlo Masters this year. That, with the added advantage of having gotten accustomed to the courts during his opening win, will give him confidence heading into the contest.

Hurkacz is unlikely to go down without a fight, but the Norwegian makes for a very tough first opponent. The Pole is likely to need some time to find his range, but against someone like Ruud, a slow start may cost him the match.

Prediction: Ruud to win in three sets