By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, October 19, 2024
Tommy Paul won 18 of 20 net points stopping Stan Wawrinka's inspired run 6-3, 6-2 to advance to his seventh career final in Stockholm.
Photo credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty
Tommy Paul flashed forward ending Stan Wawrinka's resurgent run in Stockholm.
An assertive Paul won 18 of 20 net points stopping Wawrinka 6-3, 6-2 to advance to his seventh career final at the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm.
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The Swedish city is a sentimental favorite for Paul, who captured his first career title at the 2021 Stockholm.
Reigning Dallas and Queen's Club champion Paul will be the first man to contest multiple indoor hard-court finals on the ATP Tour this season.
The fourth-seeded American will play for a fourth career title in tomorrow's final against either 2013 champion Grigor Dimitrov or Tallon Griekspoor.
World No. 13 Paul swarmed Wawrinka's second serve winning 16 of 23 points played on the sturdy Swiss' second serve and breaking three times.
Paul broke at 30 for 4-2 then saved all three break points he faced in the match backing up the break for 5-2. Paul served out the first set.
The 39-year-old Wawrinka, who defeated No. 6 Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals to become the second oldest man this century to defeat a Top-10 ranked man, dropped serve at 15 to start the second set as Paul created separation.
Paul raised his 2024 record to 44-17 reaching his fourth final of the year.
Wild card Wawrinka rises 50 spots in the rankings to No. 167.