Hubert Hurkacz asked officials if he could leave the court to change his underwear shortly before retiring from his fourth-round match at Wimbledon against Jan-Lennard Struff. The world No. 96, playing on No. 2 Court—an outdoor showcourt without a roof—appeared to pick up an injury at 5-5 in the fourth set. He left mid-game for physio treatment but continued to grimace upon returning, losing the next two games to drop the set.
Request to change and darkness complaints
Ahead of the deciding fifth set, Hurkacz repeatedly asked to leave the court to change his underwear, also arguing that it was “too dark” to continue playing. His requests were not granted. He was forced to retire early in the fifth set, abruptly ending the match. The Polish star had been leading by two sets to one before the injury setback.
Match context and reaction
Hurkacz, seeded 96th, had taken a two-sets-to-one lead before the injury struck. After losing the fourth set, he struggled with movement and was seen clutching his leg. The retirement handed Struff a place in the quarter-finals. No official statement was immediately released by Hurkacz regarding the nature of the injury or the underwear request. The incident occurred on July 5, 2026, during the afternoon session.
