Tommy Paul falls apart in fifth set of third-round loss with American men down to one US Open chance
A week into the U.S. Open, the once-promising American men are down to one representative.
On Friday, sixth-seeded Ben Shelton and No. 17 Frances Tiafoe were eliminated.
Saturday night, Tommy Paul joined them, leaving just Taylor Fritz, the fourth seed, left on the men’s side.
The 14th-seed, who had advanced to the quarterfinals of both the Australian and French Open earlier this year, was sent packing by No. 13 Alexander Bublik 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Last year, four American men reached the fourth round, with Fritz facing Tiafoe in an all-American semifinal.
That was sliced to one this time around.
Paul had no answer for Bublik’s big serve, failing to break him once during the entire 3-hour, 38-minute match.
He had only six opportunities, needing tiebreakers in the second and fourth sets to push it to the limit.
But Paul lost his serve early in the fifth set and found himself in a love-three hole.
It didn’t get any better for Paul.
He lost his serve again, this time at love.
By then, the end was near.
It has been 22 years since an American man won the U.S. Open — Andy Roddick in 2003.
If that drought is going to end, Fritz will have to get it done.
He reached the final here last summer, becoming the first to play for a Grand Slam title in 15 years.
Fritz lost to Jannik Sinner in straight sets.
He will face No. 21 Tomáš Machác in the fourth round on Sunday.
Paul’s third-round exit marked his earliest departure from the U.S. Open since 2022.
He reached the fourth round the previous two years.