Image Source wikimedia
American tennis player Tommy Paul has shown exceptional endurance at the French Open, competing in 14 sets and exceeding 10 hours of play across just three rounds.
Following a challenging four-hour win against Karen Khachanov, Paul is resolute in his commitment to continue advancing, emphasizing the mental strength necessary for these grueling matches.
It has not been an easy journey, yet Tommy Paul remains in the French Open. The American triumphed in another challenging match on Friday, narrowly defeating Karen Khachanov in the third round.
Paul had previously struggled with slow starts during the tournament, but that was not the case on Friday. After losing the first set in his last two matches, Paul came out strong this time, winning the first set against Khachanov 6-3 to establish an early advantage. Although this was a promising beginning for Paul, it did not last; Khachanov fought back in the second set, winning it 6-3 to level the match.
The third set turned out to be quite exhausting. Both players exchanged points vigorously, ultimately leading to a tiebreak. Paul needed nine points to secure the tiebreak, thus winning the third set.
With Paul just one set away from victory, Khachanov once again rallied, winning the fourth set 6-3 and pushing the match to a fifth set.
Finally, Paul appeared to find his rhythm, racing to a 4-0 lead in the final set. However, some vulnerabilities began to emerge, and Khachanov threatened to make a comeback. Nevertheless, Paul managed to close out the match, winning the final set 6-3.
This victory marked the second consecutive match in which Paul has had to go the distance against what was anticipated to be a less formidable opponent. He required five sets to defeat Marton Fucsovics in the second round of the tournament. Fucsovics entered the 2025 French Open ranked as the No. 125 men’s player, while Khachanov was ranked No. 24, representing a significant step up in competition for Paul.
(Newsroom staff only edited this story for style from a syndicated feed)
