Tennis News

Comeback of the year? Paul saves 5 MPs, shocks Tabilo

Tommy Paul earned one of the best comeback wins of the season on Sunday in Shanghai.

Nineteenth seed Alejandro Tabilo led the 11th seed 7-6(2), 5-1 and earned five match points on his serve at 5-2, but was unable to close out the match. Paul took full advantage, rallying for a 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-2 victory in two hours and 43 minutes for a place in the Round of 16 at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

Paul SURVIVES 💪@TommyPaul1 came from a set down and saved 5 match points to defeat Tabilo 6-7 7-6 6-2 😤@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/gwQrJxqJhz

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 6, 2024

Tabilo has enjoyed the best season of his career and looked ready to continue it with an impressive victory against Paul. But the Chilean made an error on three of his match points and Paul hit an overhead winner on another. On the lefty’s final match point, he put pressure on Paul by closing the net, but the American hit a perfect crosscourt backhand passing shot to escape.

Paul won 12 of the match’s final 15 games and converted four of his 13 break points according to Infosys ATP Stats to earn a showdown against in-form 30th seed Tomas Machac or qualifier Aleksandar Vukic. 

With his victory, the 27-year-old Paul climbed past Grigor Dimitrov into 10th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, within 425 points of eighth-placed Novak Djokovic. Paul is trying to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. 

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Paul now leads Tabilo 2-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series and both of their meetings have come this year. The American was also victorious 6-3, 6-4 on grass at Queen’s Club.

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Gauff beats Muchova in China for eighth WTA title

American fourth seed Coco Gauff beats Karolina Muchova 6-1 6-3 in the China Open final to claim her eighth WTA title.

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Alcaraz spoils Chinese party in Shanghai

Carlos Alcaraz was forced to battle hard on Sunday as he earned an eleventh consecutive win to advance to the Rolex Shanghai Masters fourth round.

The World No. 2 showed glimpses of his most scintillating tennis as he soared to a 7-6(5), 6-3 win over wild card Wu Yibing. Having clinched his fourth title of the season at the China Open earlier this week, Alcaraz remains unbeaten since his shock second-round exit at the US Open.

Chinese men’s tennis has undergone an eye-catching rise during the Asian swing, but Alcaraz is proving to spoil the party after he defeated Shang Juncheng in his Shanghai opener.

Alcaraz is set to face either Gael Monfils or Ugo Humbert for a spot in the quarter-finals.

More to follow.

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Sinner rallies from a set down to reach Shanghai fourth round

Jannik Sinner showcased his resilience in a gripping comeback win on Sunday to advance to the fourth round of the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

The World No. 1 passed the test posed by Tomas Martin Etcheverry, prevailing 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2 in two hours and 39 minutes to improve to 2-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“It was a very tough match, physically [and] mentally, so I am very happy to get through this one,” said Sinner, who is seeking a seventh title in 2024 in Shanghai. “I felt like it was a tough set that I lost. I had my chances [to win the set], but these things can happen.

“Sometimes you have to wait for your chances, which I have done, trying to stay calm mentally, and today that was the key.”

The cream rises to the 🔝@janniksin comes from a set down to defeat Etcheverry 6-7(3) 6-4 6-2 and return to the Round of 16 in Shanghai.@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/m8pveGJg99

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 6, 2024

Sinner will face either Roberto Carballes Baena or Ben Shelton to secure his spot in the quarter-finals. If he is to face Shelton, the No. 16 in the PIF ATP Rankings, it would be an intriguing repeat of last year’s fourth-round clash, which the American won in a deciding-set tie-break.

Both players had opportunities to snatch the opening set, but it was Etcheverry who held his nerve. Facing two set points, the Argentine turned defence into attack with ease to rally out of trouble and pull clear in a tie-break.

The 25-year-old won six from seven net points in the opening set, according to Infosys ATP Stats, underpinned by a delightful drop volley to bring up three set points before converting at the first opportunity.

Aiming to match his career-best run in Shanghai, Sinner found an extra gear at the start of the second set. Despite exchanging breaks in the fifth and sixth games, the 23-year-old remained concentrated to level the contest at one set apiece.

Etcheverry did well to weather the oncoming storm, saving three break points in the first game of the decider, but the further pressure from Sinner on return eventually proved too much for the World No. 37 as he dropped serve in the third game. From there, Sinner kept his foot on the gas, withstanding three more break points in a lengthy sixth game before cruising to victory.

The top seed, who notched the 250th tour-level win of his career against Taro Daniel in the second round, is in strong contention to lift his seventh title of the season after falling short to Carlos Alcaraz in the China Open final last week.

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Sinner survives Etcheverry test at Shanghai Masters

World number one Jannik Sinner recovers from a set down to beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the third round of the Shanghai Masters.

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Medvedev survives Shanghai scare from Arnaldi

Daniil Medvedev dug deep on Sunday to maintain his bid for a first title of 2024 at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

The No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings rallied to a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory against Matteo Arnaldi to book his fourth-round spot at the ATP Masters 1000 event. Medvedev held firm to prevail after two hours and 44 minutes in an absorbing encounter full of extended rallies.

“It was a very tough match, a very close one,” said Medvedev. “I actually felt like that’s where tennis is funny. I felt like in the first set, I was probably the better player, had more opportunities. I didn’t manage to [win] it, played a bad game at the end of the set.

“In the other sets, I thought it was closer. Maybe even he had the edge on some of the moments, but that’s why tennis is crazy. You can win when you don’t expect it, and lose when you expect to win, so I’m happy to be here again in two days.”

A Shanghai special from @DaniilMedwed 🤩@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/djdos1P40E

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 6, 2024

Medvedev will take on 10th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or Alexandre Muller next in Shanghai, where he is chasing his first tour-level title since his Rome victory in May 2023. The 28-year-old is also looking to take further steps towards Nitto ATP Finals qualification in China. He is currently fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and in a strong position to seal his spot at the prestigious season finale for the sixth consecutive year.

Competing under the roof inside Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena due to rain, Medvedev broke Arnaldi’s serve in the opening game of the match but was unable to maintain that momentum in the early stages. The Italian won six of eight games from 1-3 to clinch the opening set as he made a positive start in his bid for a first fourth-round appearance in Shanghai.

Yet in trademark fashion, Medvedev found a way to grind out a victory with the help of some improved serving and a decisive, clinical return game in the ninth game of the deciding set. He capitalised on some late nerves from Arnaldi on serve to move 5-4 ahead before closing out the victory to improve to 4-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Medvedev finished the match having won four of 12 break points he earned, according to Infosys ATP Stats. He is now 9-3 in Shanghai, where he is aiming to win the same tour-level title twice for the first time in his career.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Rain halts Sunday play in Shanghai, Medvedev in action under roof

Play at the Rolex Shanghai Masters has been suspended for a second successive day due to rain. There is currently no play to begin on the outside courts until at least 2 p.m. local time (CST) at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

With a retractable roof on Stadium Court, Daniil Medvedev and Matteo Arnaldi’s second-round clash will continue as the pair head into a deciding set. It is the sole match that has been contested on Sunday in Shanghai, though three are scheduled to follow under the roof. 

Jannik Sinner is set to take to the court against Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry, and Carlos Alcaraz will battle home hope Wu Yibing for a place in the third round. Eleventh seed Tommy Paul will then conclude Sunday’s play on Stadium Court when he takes on Alejandro Tabilo in a bid to extend his 1-0 lead in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Taylor Fritz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Holger Rune are among the stars waiting to get underway on the outside courts once the rain has stopped.

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