ACAPULCA, Mexico (AP) — Tommy Paul defeated American and longtime rival Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (2) in the…
ACAPULCA, Mexico (AP) — Tommy Paul defeated American and longtime rival Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (2) in a marathon three-hour match Friday night to book a spot at the Mexican Open final.
A couple of 25-year-old guys have been in contact since they were teenagers. The Americans first met when Fritz was 13 and Paul was 14 at the 2011 USTA Under-14 National Championships in San Antonio, Texas.
Paul needed nearly three and a half hours to beat third-seeded Fritz in the semifinals on Friday to become the third American to reach the final in Acapulco. Fritz did it in 2020 and Sam Querrey won the tournament in 2017.
Paul, who reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January, is seeking his second career title after Stockholm in 2021.
He will face the winner of Friday’s late semi-final between Denmark’s Halger Run and Australia’s Alex de Minaur.
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