Machac Stuns Paul in Tokyo, Books Quarterfinal Berth
In a thrilling encounter at the Tokyo Open, Tomas Machac overcame a spirited challenge from Tommy Paul to secure a hard-fought 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory and advance to the quarterfinals.
Machac, ranked 34th in the world, found himself trailing for much of the match against the fifth-seeded Paul. However, the Czech displayed remarkable resilience, particularly in the decisive tiebreaker, to snatch the victory.
Paul, who was aiming to boost his chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin, had several opportunities to seize control of the match. He squandered four break points in the opening game of the second set and missed three game points that could have leveled the score at 3-3.
In the third set, Paul surged to a 3-0 lead and came within two points of victory at 5-4, deuce. But Machac refused to surrender, delivering pinpoint serves when it mattered most.
In the tiebreaker, Machac seized the initiative with a blistering backhand return up the line off Paul’s second serve. He followed it up with a backhand drop volley and two powerful first serves to deny Paul any chance of a comeback.
“I had to play much better in the second set,” Machac said after the match. “The third set was unbelievable from my side. It’s tough conditions, but for me it’s great. And cold.”
Machac’s victory extended his impressive record against American opponents to 6-1 in tour-level main draws this season. He will now face Alex Michelsen in the semifinals, a player he defeated in the quarterfinals of the Geneva Open earlier this year.
Michelsen, a 20-year-old qualifier from California, cruised past Christopher O’Connell 6-1, 6-4 to set up the clash with Machac. Michelsen saved all three break points he faced to reach his seventh quarterfinal of the year.