Tommy Paul resists and signs a dramatic victory against Joao Fonseca in Madrid | ATP Tour

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Paul resists and signs a dramatic triumph against Fonseca in Madrid

The American passed to the Brazilian in two tight Tie-Breaks

April 26, 2025

Tommy Paul put all his trade and experience on the court and won in the mutual Madrid operate Joao Fonseca, one of the public’s favorites. With a tight 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3), the American found his best tennis at the close of both sets to stop the Popular Brazilian at the Manolo Santana stadium.

Paul, who played his second appointment of the season in whipped land (Houston semifinals) and his first in Europe since he reached the quarterfinals at the Paris Olympic Games last July, avoided two Fonseca set points while 4-6 in the initial tie-break and others taking out 4-5 on the second set. Although Fonseca’s fire power allowed him to trace a 1-3 in the second set, Paul stabilized at the crucial moment to seal the victory.

“I think the level was impressive. It really had me in suspense,” Paul said. “It was in each of my service games on the first set and I was pressing very well in the game. I was glad to overcome those service games. My serve helped me a lot,” he defined.

In fact, Paul exceeded six break points in the first set and won five of the last six points in the Tie-Break to put ahead, taking advantage of a series of inopportune errors of Fonseca. In the second set, the Brazilian began to dominate with his right and broke for the first time in his ninth opportunity for break, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to match 3-3. But Paul met again with his best way after escaping his 4-5 service game and was again the strongest player in the second Tie-Break.

Meanwhile, Paul returned to the Top 10 of the PIF ATP Live Ranking with the victory and improved 12-0 this season after winning the first set. In addition, he connected nine ACES and saved 10 of 11 break points in his first Lexus ATP Head2head meeting with Fonseca.

For his part, Jack Draper also advanced Saturday afternoon with a 6-3 and 6-4 victory against Tallon Griekspoor. The British arrived in Madrid with the best PIF ATP Ranking ATP of his career, No. 6, and is now only 290 points from No. 5 Novak Djokovic. Draper could overcome Serbio if he reaches the semifinals.

The 23 -year -old will face Matteo Berrettini for the third time in less than a year, but for the first time in whipped land. Berrettini leads his lexus ATP Head2head 2-0 with victories in three sets in the Stuttgart 2024 (grass) and in this year’s Doha rooms (hard).