By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Tommy Paul charged through six straight games streaking past Gilles Simon 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 into the Paris Rolex Masters second round.
Photo credit: Kazakhstan Tennis Federation
Tommy Paul turned his Paris debut into rousing revival.
Down 0-3 in the decisive set, Paul charged through six straight games streaking past Gilles Simon 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 into the Paris Rolex Masters second round.
More: Wawrinka Aims For Final Surge
Arriving in Paris riding a career-high rank of No. 55, Paul was facing the ghosts of squandering two match points and blowing a 5-0 lead in the final tiebreaker bowing to John Millman 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(5) in the Nur-Sultan quarterfinals last week. While Millman went on to win his first ATP title on Sunday, Paul practiced in Paris for his first meeting with Simon.
The slender Frenchman surrendered serve in the opening game, but answered winning six of the final seven games to take a one-set lead.
Paul broke for a 4-2 second-set lead and won eight of the last 11 points played on his serve to snatch the set and force a decider.
The 2012 semifinalist hit some strikes down the line charging through 12 of the first 14 points in the decider building a 3-0 lead.
Resetting, Paul broke three times in a row surging through six straight games to close in two hours and raise his 2020 record to 15-12.
Next up for Paul is his first career clash vs. three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka.
The 12th-seeded Swiss saved both break points he faced defeating Vienna semifinalist Dan Evans 6-3, 7-6(3).
It was Wawrinka’s fifth win in as many meetings with the 31st-ranked Briton.
“I think he's always been a tough opponent,” Wawrinka said. “If we look at the scores, I saved match point in St. Petersburg, got lucky a little bit, saved match point in US Open, three sets in Indian Wells. Tough sets today.
“Yeah, he's tough player. Always been playing good match against him. It's not easy to get through him. But, yeah, in general like today, I think was one of my best match that I played against him.”
It was a day of three entertaining matches pitting Frenchman against Americans.
Earlier, former French Open doubles champion Pierre-Hugues Herbert edged Tennys Sandgren 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(4).
The French wild card served just 48 percent and clanked six double faults, but used his net skills to subdue Sandgren on pivotal points. It was Herbert’s second three-set win over Sandgren in a month following his victory at Cologne-2 last month. Herbert credited his positive perspective as the key.
“He's a really tough opponent, I have to say,” Herbert said. “We played in two different atmospheres, because here it's really faster than Cologne, and we did two great matches, and I was the lucky one to be able to win. But it could have gone either way.
“I mean, for sure we have games that disturb a bit the other, but I could manage to, yeah, to win. Yeah, I don't think he's in the best mood, I would say. He didn't win that many matches lately, and maybe this helped me also to help me get to win maybe the important points.”
Herbert will face 10th-seeded Milos Raonic for a spot in the round of 16.
Raonic rocketed 18 aces and permitted just six points on serve overpowering Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-2 in 63 minutes. Raonic has won 10 of 11 sets vs. Bedene and all five of their meetings.
“I wasn't sure if I was going to be ready for here,” Raonic said. “And to play well today and to play efficiently on court and to not have any of those physical issues, that's sort of what has occupied my mind the most. You know, there is a long ways to go and a lot more hopefully tennis to play.”
World No. 56 Richard Gasquet topped Taylor Fritz 6-0, 3-6, 6-3. Gasquet saved five of six break points in a one hour, 36 minute victory that snapped a four-match losing streak.
“I just think I had a big injury just after US Open. Couldn't practice at all,” Gasquet said. “Just play Roland Garros but without practice. Then I had to play Medvedev in St. Petersburg and de Minaur in Belgium. That's two of the best players in the world. They were favorite of the match.
“Now I'm feeling a little bit better. I could practice in indoors. I know the court, I like to play here in Bercy. Even if there is no crowd, it's different, but I still used to play here. That's why I could play a good match because Taylor is a solid opponent. He has a big serve. So I'm happy with the way I played.”