shanghai
Comeback of the year? Paul saves five MPs and shocks Tabilo.
The American is next scheduled to play Machac or Vukic in Shanghai.
October 6, 2024
Jeolji/Getty Images
Tommy Paul advanced to Shanghai by beating Alejandro Tabilo in three sets on Sunday evening.
Written by ATP Staff
Tommy Paul pulled off his best comeback win of the season in Shanghai on Sunday.
19th seed Alejandro Tabilo outshot the 11th seed 7-6(2), 5-1 and had five match points at 5-2 on serve but was unable to finish the match. Paul advanced to the round of 16 at the Rolex Shanghai Masters with a 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-2 win in 2 hours and 43 minutes.
Paul survives
@TommyPaul1 Saved 5 match points from a set down to beat Tabilo 6-7 7-6 6-2
@SH_RolexMasters | #Rolex Shanghai Masters pic.twitter.com/gwQrJxqJhz
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 6, 2024
Tavilo had the best season of his career and looked ready to continue that with an impressive win over Paul. But the Chilean made mistakes on three match points and the Pole fired an overhead goal on another match point. At the left-hander’s last match point, he blocked the net and put pressure on Paul, but the U.S. succeeded in escaping with a perfect cross-court backhand pass shot.
According to Infosys ATP Stats, Paul won 12 of the last 15 games of the match and converted 4 of 13 break points to set up a showdown with either unofficial 30th seed Tomas Machac or qualifier Aleksandar Vukic.
The 27-year-old’s win moved him above Grigor Dimitrov into 10th place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, 425 points clear of eighth-placed Novak Djokovic. Paul is trying to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time.
Did you know?
Paul now leads Tabilo 2-0 in the Lexus ATP Head2Head Series, with both meetings taking place this year. The American also won 6-3, 6-4 on the Queen’s Club lawn.
