Tommy Paul has shared a frank description of what he did between sets to turn his third-round victory against Hubert Hurkacz in his favour, having dropped the first set.
The American lost a competitive opening set against his big-serving Polish counterpart, but fought back impressively to win through and upset the former Miami Open champion.
This match was a far cry from Paul's opening match win against Struff, which he won in straight sets with few complications. Speaking to the Tennis Channel after the match, the American said:
The first set I felt a little too flat, I don't think either of us played too well, I guess there were like three breaks of serve. The conditions were not what I expected, I mean it was super slow and even more on my court.
The ball was actually flying off the strings and slowing down, it was weird, but ya, I just went to the bathroom after the first set and slapped myself around and said to myself, 'Come on, man, turn it up,' and then came out and played with a lot more energy in the second set. My game plan worked really well and just happy with how it went.
Paul will next face Canada's Felix Auger Aliassime in what is set to be one of the many highlights of the round of 16.
After reaching the final in Acapulco and now dispatching World No 10., Tommy Paul is on a scintillating run of form that may very well trouble the Canadian's thus far underwhelming season. The winner of that fourth round match will play against either top seed Carlos Alcaraz or rapidly rising British star Jack Draper.
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