American tennis player, Tommy Paul, is one of the players taking advantage of the whacky 2021 tennis season. Paul turned professional in 2015, and for six years he has been toiling on tour with sporadic displays of the brilliant tennis he can produce when he is focused.
Tommy Paul Finally Cements His Focus
Perhaps it is watching all the younger players passing him by, or perhaps it just took a while to get his game in the right place. However, we know that there is a new focus and a willingness to fight when the chips are down. He took out the fifth seed in straight sets. Then he had to fight back against a determined Andy Murray to win in three sets. His most impressive display was against another American, Frances Tiafoe and Paul dug deep to win that match.
Denis Shapovalov Would Not Be A Pushover
This was the first final showing for the twenty-four-year-old American. If the nerves were going to show, this match would be the arena. Perhaps they did in the second set as he seemed to completely lose his focus and played some loose and wild shots. Broken twice, the momentum appeared to be fully back on the side of the Canadian; however, the American was not ready to call it quits just yet.
The 3rd Set Was A Mental Battle For Both
The pressure was all on Shapovalov, after all, he was the defending champion in Stockholm. In their first meeting, the ranking favored the Canadian; however, with an opportunity to win his first title, Paul regained his composure. They both had opportunities to break and after squandering break point opportunities in the eight game, Shapovalov played a very lose night game. Paul at 0-40 up had three break points and he only needed one to break and take a 5-4 lead. Surely the nerves would crop up as he served for his first ATP singles title. The American was a cool as a cucumber, serving brilliantly, completely taking the match out of the Canadian’s hands.
FINAL SCORE: 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 [Tommy Paul is the Stockholm Open 2021 champion]
ALL IMAGES: Getty Images
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