Paul Stakes USA to 1-0 Lead Over Hungary in Davis Cup

By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, February 7, 2026
Photo credit: Davis Cup Facebook

Tommy Paul made a successful Davis Cup return on the red clay of Hungary.

Paul slid his sixth ace to close a 7-6(3), 6-3 victory over Zsombor Piros to stake Team USA to a 1-0 lead over host Hungary in the Davis Cup World Cup Qualifier in Tatabánya, Hungary.

It was Paul’s first Davis Cup victory since 2023 and it didn’t come easily.

“From the jump, we played some really, really good points, some really good games to start the match,” Paul said. “He was playing some tough tennis for me to play against. He was finding that forehand and he was hitting it well.

“I think for me it was just figuring out my backhand late in the match.”

The pair traded breaks to start the match. Three games in, Piros began clutching the back of his right leg as if possibly feeling the onset of cramps.

That feeling only made the Hungarian even more aggressive. Dancing around his backhand, Piros fired his forehand with vigor staying on serve the rest of the set.

Paul created separation in the tiebreaker when Piros missed a backhand down the line. Paul seize the mini break and stretched it closing out the 71-minute opening set.

“He was doing a lot with his forehand. It felt like he could hit it anywhere on the court, so it’s never fun to play against,” Paul said. “Yeah, he played a great match.”

Battling back from a break down in the second set, Paul made his move in the eighth game.

Piros celebrated what he thought was an ace, but the serve landed out. The Hungarian double faulted as Paul earned a break point. Paul hit a deep return, attacked net and blocked a high forehand volley breaking for 5-3.

An assertive Paul pulled out the serve-and-volley twice in a row to start the final game then sealed the win with an ace.

“The first match in a tie is always a lot of nerves on both ends of the court. I’m sure he was nervous as well,” Paul said. “I though the level from the ground was pretty decent. I’m glad we can give you guys a good show. I’m sure there’s gonna be a good match up next.”

American Ethan Quinn faces Hungarian No. 1 Fabian Marozsan in the second singles match. World No. 47 Marozsan owns a career win over Carlos Alcaraz.