Paul Advances After Tense Match Against Fonseca in Madrid - Times News Global
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Paul Advances After Tense Match Against Fonseca in Madrid

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Tommy Paul Tennis Match Madrid

MADRID, Spain — Tommy Paul showcased his skill Saturday night, defeating Joao Fonseca in a tightly contested match at the Manolo Santana Stadium. The 11th-seeded Paul overcame the 18-year-old Brazilian with a score of 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3), advancing in the Madrid Open.

Paul faced considerable pressure as he saved two set points on each occasion. “I thought the level was awesome,” Paul told ATP Media. “From the jump, he really had me on my toes.” Throughout the first set, Paul’s serve played a crucial role, allowing him to maintain his lead.

The opening set featured intense rallies between Paul’s backhand and Fonseca’s formidable forehand. Both players had a positive ratio of winners to unforced errors, but Fonseca ultimately could not convert on six break points. A critical moment came when he missed a forehand on a set point, which cost him dearly.

After Paul took the first set, he broke Fonseca early in the second set. Although Fonseca leveled the score at 5-5, fleeting errors saw him miss another break point opportunity, and Paul capitalized on a series of aggressive plays, sealing the match in the tiebreak.

“He worked my backhand before pulling out a disguised forehand dropshot, and I knew I had to step up my game,” Paul added. He finished the match with 17 winners against 10 unforced errors.

This victory marks Paul’s first match on clay this season in Europe, as he moves on to face Karen Khachanov in the next round. “It feels great to win and continue in this tournament,” Paul said.

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