Pure Grit: Paul Saves Match Points, Wins First Clay Crown in Houston Thriller
By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, April 5, 2026
Photo credit: Fayez Sarofim & U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship
Facing three championship points in the final set, Tommy Paul could see the end of the line.
A resilient Paul re-wrote the final route in a rousing Houston title run.
Paul saved three championship points serving at 3-5 sparking a 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 comeback win over Roman Andres Burruchaga in a pulsating Houton final.
The fourth-seeded Paul won the final four games capturing his fifth career title, including his maiden clay-court championship.
Paul is now a champion for all surfaces owning ATP titles on clay, grass and hard courts.
“Roman, it was an amazing week,” Paul told Burruchaga before accepting the championship trophy. “Today’s level was seriously great, great level.
“You’re playing amazing tennis, and it is only going to get better.”
It’s the second straight heart-racing comeback win for Paul.
A patient Paul drew one final error converting his fourth match point in edging buddy Frances Tiafoe 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7) to battle into his ninth career final at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship yesterday.
Today, Paul kept his nerve and joined Tiafoe as the as only active American men to collect ATP Tour titles on clay, grass and hard courts.
The 28-year-old Paul continues a red, white and blue tradition at River Oaks becoming the fifth
consecutive American champion in Houston after Reilly Opelka (2022), Tiafoe (2023), Ben Shelton (2024) and Jenson Brooksby (2025). Paul is the oldest Houston champion since Juan Monaco, 32, in 2016.
Maiden finalist Burruchaga came out tight and Paul took it to him at the outset.
Keeping calm through a tense five-deuce game, Paul staved off a pair of break points in his longest service game of the set. Paul slid his second ace that helped him hold for a 5-0 lead after 28 minutes of play.
Burruchaga saved a set point in the sixth game to snap the shutout and finally get on the board after 37 minutes.
On his third set point, Paul closed out a strong opening set.
Flipping the script in the second set, Burruchaga began to dictate the direction of more rallies with his forehand. Burruchaga broke for 2-0 and consolidated the break at 15 for a 3-0 second-set lead.
The world No. 77 served out the set at 30 to force a final set.
The Argentinean broke for a 2-1 third-set lead and reeled off eight points in a row on serve, extending his lead to 3-1.
Serving at 3-5, a gritty Paul saved his first championship point at 30-40. Paul denied two more championship points on Ad-Out points eventually navigating a grueling hold for 4-5.
Serving for his first ATP title, Burruchaga immediately went down Love-30 as Paul powered through the break to level the set after 10 games. Paul reeled off eight of nine points snatching a 6-5 lead.
Though Burruchaga held game points at 40-Love in the 13th game, Paul refused to yield. The Delray Bach finalist fought back in a gripping 14-point game scoring his second straight break to become a champion for all surfaces.
Paul, who held a match point in last year’s semifinal over 2025 champion Jenson Brooksby, is the leader in 2026 match wins among American men, with a 19-7 record.
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