Tommy Paul, the 12th seed, delivered a dominant performance to secure his spot in the Australian Open quarter-finals for the second time in three years. The American dismantled an exhausted Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 in just 87 minutes on Margaret Court Arena, capitalizing on the Spaniard’s physical struggles after grueling previous rounds.
A mismatch from the start
Davidovich Fokina, who had spent over nine hours on court in two five-set battles against Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jakub Mensik, arrived visibly drained. Paul, on the other hand, showcased his sharpness and consistency, taking full control of the match from the opening game.
The American lost just 17 points on serve and fended off all three break points he faced, while breaking the Spaniard seven times from 13 opportunities. Paul hit 25 winners and made only 12 unforced errors, dominating both short rallies and extended exchanges.
Set-by-set breakdown
- First Set (6-1):
Paul broke early in the second game with a fortunate net cord winner and quickly established a 3-0 lead. After saving a break point in the fifth game, he broke again in the sixth with a forehand crosscourt winner, then sealed the set with an ace in just 22 minutes. - Second Set (6-1):
After a medical timeout for Davidovich Fokina due to a hip injury, Paul showed no mercy. The American secured breaks in the first and third games, taking a 3-0 lead. A forehand winner earned him a break at love to close the set in 49 minutes, mirroring the first set scoreline. - Third Set (6-1):
Paul continued his relentless pace, breaking in the second game for a 2-0 lead. Despite facing two break points in the fifth game, the American held his serve and extended his advantage to 4-1. Davidovich Fokina faltered again in the sixth game, gifting another break with a netted backhand. Paul served out the match at 5-1, sealing victory with a service winner on his first match point.
Paul’s take on the match
Paul acknowledged his opponent’s physical struggles but emphasized his focus on executing his game plan:
“I knew Alejandro had been through some tough matches, but I stayed locked in on my own game. I’m happy with how I played today and how I managed the match.”
Quarter-final clash with Alexander Zverev
Paul now faces world No. 2 Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals. Zverev, who defeated Ugo Humbert in four sets, presents a significant challenge with his powerful serve and baseline consistency.
“Zverev is one of the toughest players on the tour,” Paul said. “It’s going to be a battle, but I feel ready and confident in my game.”
