PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI
Tommy Paul advances to the 2nd round in his first Masters 1000 appearance. Pete Ziebron Images
American Wild Card Tommy Paul improved to 6-2 this year with an impressive 6-4 7-6(4) win over countryman Donald Young in the first match on Grandstand on Monday at the Western & Southern Open.
- Paul now 6-2 in 2017
- Young 0-6 lifetime in Cincy & 0-12 in sets played
- Paul saved 11 of 12 break points
Each player held serve in the opening four games of the match before Paul converted on his second break opportunity in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead in the first set. Paul did consolidate the break but not before saving two break points to get to 4-2. Young held at love in each of his next two service games, however Paul was taken to deuce the next time he served and had to once again save two break points in his final service game of the set before prevailing 6-4.
Tommy Paul saved all six break points against him in the opening set as he continually stymied Young, especially late in his last two service games. Despite winning three games at love on his serve, Young lost the opening set.
Donald Young, who has yet to win a set of tennis in five previous attempts in Cincinnati, raced to a 3-0 lead in set two as he held to begin the set, broke Paul and then held again at love. However, Paul would turn the tables and hold, proceed to break Young at love and then save four break points in the sixth game of the set to level at 3-3.
The only period of mild danger for either player in the rest of the set appeared with Young serving at 5 all, as that game reached deuce before Young closed it out with his sixth ace of the match. Paul would hold at 30 and it was off to the second set tiebreak.
Tommy Paul won the first point of the breaker on Young's serve, held his serve and then won another point as Young served to cruise to a 4-0 lead. Down 1-5, Young managed to win the next three points to get as close as 4-5, but those would be the last points of the match that he would collect as world #175 Tommy Paul continues his impressive ascent up the ATP rankings.
Just last month, the 20 year-old Paul played an ITF Futures event in Illinois where he entered that event ranked #355. Three weeks ago, Paul won two qualifying matches and two main draw matches at the Atlanta 250 event. The following week in Washington, DC, Paul recorded impressive wins over Casper Ruud, Lucas Pouille and Gilles Muller. Next, he led a Match Point in the second set against world #9 Kei Nishikori before falling in that quarterfinal match.
Next up for Tommy Paul is a Center Court night match against fellow American John Isner on Tuesday at the Western & Southern Open.
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