11th Time’s a Charm for Tommy Paul vs Moutet in Delray Beach

Ten match points went begging in the ninth game of the final set of Tommy Paul’s 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Corentin Moutet on Tuesday at the Delray Beach Open.

This one goes to 11…

Fifth-seeded Paul drilled down and finished off his two hour and 30-minute oddysey to take his place in the second round, where Australia’s Adam Walton waits.

Credit Moutet for his guile and his refusal to quit. He threw a bevy of drop shots Paul’s way as he held serve in the marathon game, then drank a Coco Cola during the changeover, but in the end his efforts were in vain.

“On both sides of the court we were scrapping,” Paul said. “I was happy to hold in that last game, I had a ton of match points in his service game, and that always makes it a little more difficult”

The second round (round of 16 is already set at Delray Beach) after a busy Tuesday:

Main Draw Round of 32 Results

• Sebastian Korda def. Mackenzie McDonald (6-4, 7-5)
• Brandon Nakashima (7) def. Marin Cilic (7-6(4), 7-6(5))
• Miomir Kecmanovic def. Mattia Bellucci (6-1, 6-4)
• Tommy Paul (5) def. Corentin Moutet (4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4))
• Rafael Jodar def. Ethan Quinn (6-2, 6-3)
• Adam Walton (LL) def. Gabriel Diallo (7-6(4), 6-3)
• Zachary Svajda (Q) def. Aleksandar Kovacevic (7-6(4), 6-3)
• Alex Michelsen def. Valentin Vacherot (6) (7-6(4), 6-4)
• Frances Tiafoe (8) def. Rinky Hijikata (Q) (6-4, 6-4)
• Marcos Giron def. Sho Shimabukuro (Q) (6-3, 7-5)
• Coleman Wong (Q) def. Nuno Borges (7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3)
• Terence Atmane def. Patrick Kypson (WC) (6-3, 2-6, 6-4)

Round of 16 Matchups

• Taylor Fritz (1) vs. Rafael Jodar
• Alex Michelsen vs. Sebastian Korda
• Casper Ruud (2) vs. Miomir Kecmanovic
• Flavio Cobolli (3) vs. Zachary Svajda
• Learner Tien (4) vs. Tommy Paul
• Brandon Nakashima vs. Adam Walton
• Frances Tiafoe vs. Marcos Giron
• Coleman Wong vs. Terence Atmane