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Tommy Paul edged Nuno Borges in a five-set US Open thriller ending at 1:46 a.m. on Arthur Ashe Stadium, advancing to face Alexander Bublik in the third round.
Tommy Paul at the US Open (AP)
Overtime? Nah — crunch time for Tommy Paul.
The American No. 14 seed outlasted Portugal’s Nuno Borges in a five-set epic that ended at 1:46 a.m., booking his place in the US Open third round early Friday.
Tommy Paul survived a brutal, seesaw battle on Arthur Ashe Stadium, finally prevailing 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 5-7, 5-7, 7-5 in 4 hours 45 minutes.
The late-night finish evoked memories of other New York marathons, much like the Carlos Alcaraz–Jannik Sinner 2022 quarterfinal that wrapped at 2:50 a.m.
Missed Chances, Momentum Swings
Paul appeared headed for a relatively routine night when he earned two match points in the third set, but he couldn’t convert. Borges, the world No. 41, seized the opening, pushing the match deep into the night and forcing a fifth set. Even then, nothing came easy for either player as Borges rallied from 0-3 down in the decider before Paul steadied himself.
With the clock ticking past 1:00 a.m. and a thinning crowd, Paul finally closed it out on his third match point, punctuating the win with a lung-busting rally and a warm embrace at the net.
“A little bit tired now, I’m sure we all are,” Paul exclaimed to all those who stayed back to witness the battle.
“First off, I want to say thank you to you guys for staying so late and supporting me. It’s definitely cool to get such a win.”
At 28, Paul has become a fixture in the second week conversation at majors, and this kind of grind mirrors the composure he’s shown in big moments elsewhere on tour.
Borges, meanwhile, demonstrated why he’s climbed steadily into the top 50: relentless baseline resistance and the nerve to extend matches under pressure.
Paul faces No. 23 seed Alexander Bublik next—a stylistic clash against one of the tour’s most unpredictable talents.
(with AFP inputs)
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
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