Paul Survives Dimitrov Comeback For Career-Best Slam Showing

American Tommy Paul hung on to beat Grigor Dimitrov and make his first third round at a Grand Slam on Wednesday at the Australian Open.

The 22-year-old Paul led 6-4, 7-6(6) but Dimitrov served for the match at 5-4 in the fifth and was two points away, at 30/0, from reaching his seventh third round in Melbourne.

But Paul, who was playing in only his second five-set match, dug deep to break Dimitrov, who fell to 10-8 in five-set matches and has never come back from two sets down.

Paul was struggling physically, at times hobbling to balls. But he opted to go for more on his forehand wing and ran away with the Match Tie-break, advancing 6-4, 7-6(8), 3-6, 6-7(3), 7-6(10-3).

“I've never been a part of something like that, honestly. A lot of fun playing in front of all you guys. Towards the end of the fifth, it was you guys who got me through it,” Paul said of the crowd, which was chanting “Tom-my! Tom-my!”

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The 6'1” right-hander beat Argentina's Leonardo Mayer in four sets on Tuesday as rain postponed play on Monday. It was his first win at a major championships.

“I've never really played back-to-back best-of-five matches. I guess if you're going to have a second one, why not go 7-6 in the fifth?” Paul said.

The American will next meet Hungary's Marton Fucsovics, who beat 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals champion Jannik Sinner 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the Australian Open round of 32 for the second time. Fucsovics reached the fourth round in Melbourne in 2018.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/2Gdzdf7