By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, April 5, 2026Photo credit score: Fayez Sarofim & U.S. Males’s Clay Courtroom Championship
Going through three championship factors within the remaining set, Tommy Paul might see the tip of the road.
A resilient Paul re-wrote the ultimate route in a rousing Houston title run.
Paul saved three championship factors serving at 3-5 sparking a 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 comeback win over Roman Andres Burruchaga in a pulsating Houton remaining.
The fourth-seeded Paul gained the ultimate 4 video games capturing his fifth profession title, together with his maiden clay-court championship.
Paul is now a champion for all surfaces proudly owning ATP titles on clay, grass and exhausting courts.
“Roman, it was an incredible week,” Paul advised Burruchaga earlier than accepting the championship trophy. “Right this moment’s stage was severely nice, nice stage.
“You’re taking part in wonderful tennis, and it is just going to get higher.”
It’s the second straight heart-racing comeback win for Paul.
A affected person Paul drew one remaining error changing his fourth match level in edging buddy Frances Tiafoe 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7) to battle into his ninth profession remaining on the U.S. Males’s Clay Courtroom Championship yesterday.
Right this moment, Paul stored his nerve and joined Tiafoe because the as solely lively American males to gather ATP Tour titles on clay, grass and exhausting courts.
The 28-year-old Paul continues a crimson, white and blue custom at River Oaks changing into the fifthconsecutive American champion in Houston after Reilly Opelka (2022), Tiafoe (2023), Ben Shelton (2024) and Jenson Brooksby (2025). Paul is the oldest Houston champion since Juan Monaco, 32, in 2016.
Maiden finalist Burruchaga got here out tight and Paul took it to him on the outset.
Holding calm by way of a tense five-deuce sport, Paul staved off a pair of break factors in his longest service sport of the set. Paul slid his second ace that helped him maintain for a 5-0 lead after 28 minutes of play.
Burruchaga saved a set level within the sixth sport to snap the shutout and eventually get on the board after 37 minutes.
On his third set level, Paul closed out a powerful opening set.
Flipping the script within the second set, Burruchaga started to dictate the path of extra rallies together with his forehand. Burruchaga broke for 2-0 and consolidated the break at 15 for a 3-0 second-set lead.
The world No. 77 served out the set at 30 to power a remaining set.
The Argentinean broke for a 2-1 third-set lead and reeled off eight factors in a row on serve, extending his result in 3-1.
Serving at 3-5, a gritty Paul saved his first championship level at 30-40. Paul denied two extra championship factors on Advert-Out factors ultimately navigating a grueling maintain for 4-5.
Serving for his first ATP title, Burruchaga instantly went down Love-30 as Paul powered by way of the break to stage the set after 10 video games. Paul reeled off eight of 9 factors snatching a 6-5 lead.
Although Burruchaga held sport factors at 40-Love within the thirteenth sport, Paul refused to yield. The Delray Bach finalist fought again in a gripping 14-point sport scoring his second straight break to turn into a champion for all surfaces.
Paul, who held a match level in final yr’s semifinal over 2025 champion Jenson Brooksby, is the chief in 2026 match wins amongst American males, with a 19-7 file.
