Tommy Paul will compete in his first Wimbledon quarter-final
Tommy Paul arrived at Wimbledon as one of the dark horses after conquering the ATP 500 title at Queen’s. It’s so far so good for the 12th seed at the All England Club, entering his first Wimbledon quarter-final and the second at Majors.
Tommy faced Roberto Bautista Agut in the fourth round, scoring a 6-2, 7-6, 6-2 victory in two hours and two minutes on Court No. 2. Thus, he arranged the clash against the defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Bautista Agut scored three wins at a Major for the second time in the previous three seasons, overpowering Fabio Fognini after four and a half hours but ending his journey against an in-form American.
Paul fired 11 aces and made the difference with his first serve, with nothing separating them on the second. Tommy played aggressive tennis, landing 41 winners and 29 unforced errors and rushing to the net. Roberto scored only one break and gave away 44% of the points behind the initial shot, facing seven break points and suffering five breaks.
The better-ranked player found the rhythm right from the start, serving well and mounting the pressure on the other side. Roberto stayed in touch in the opening games, holding after a deuce in the fourth and locking the result at 2-2.
Tommy held at love in the fifth game and generated two break chances in the next one. The American drew the Spaniard’s mistake, seizing the first and opening a 4-2 advantage under a light rain. Tommy caused Roberto’s mistake in the seventh game, rattling off 12 of the previous 14 points and extending the gap.
Bautista Agut squandered a game point at 2-5. He sprayed a backhand error on the set point, losing serve for the second time and allowing Paul to wrap up the opener in 35 minutes. The second set lasted nearly an hour, and the Spaniard fought better.
Paul faced the first issues behind the initial shot in the third game, playing against four break points while squandering game points.
Tommy Paul will face Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon quarter-final.
Tommy sprayed a backhand mistake on the fourth break chance, losing serve and sending Roberto in front.
However, the Spaniard could not cement it, netting a backhand a few minutes later and bringing his opponent to the positive side. They served well in the upcoming eight games, producing holds at 15 and introducing a tie break.
Two rivals traded early mini-breaks and served better in the upcoming points, with Bautista Agut locking the result at 3-3 with a forehand winner. The veteran sprayed a forehand error in the seventh point and netted a forehand in the ninth point to provide Paul with three set points.
Tommy converted the first after Roberto’s loose backhand, moving two sets to love in front after an hour and 32 minutes. They embraced an extended rally in the third game of the third set, with Paul landing a drop shot winner for a break at love and a boost.
The American fired a service winner in the fourth game, holding at love and moving closer to the finish line. With everything working his way, Paul painted a backhand down the line return winner in game five, earning another break and confirming it with a forehand winner in the next one.
Paul served for the win at 5-2 and earned a match point with a volley winner. He converted it with an ace, moving over the top in style and setting the Carlos Alcaraz quarter-final showdown.