The top seed Tommy Paul made a winning start at the ATP 250 event in Houston. Tommy faced the former Houston champion Cristian Garin in the second round and prevailed 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 in two hours and 42 minutes.
The Chilean made a solid start, seeking a much-needed notable win. However, he fell in the closing stages of the duel despite a great resistance, ending his campaign in the second round. Garin claimed one point more than Paul.
However, the American played a bit better behind the first and second serve, although they both provided four breaks of serve.
Tommy landed 34 winners and 47 unforced errors. Cristian produceda 26-27 ratio and played a bit better from the baseline. However, he dropped the crucial points and propelled the home favorite through. They needed almost 15 minutes to complete the opening game of the duel.
Cristian denied three break points and closed the game after ten deuces to avoid an early setback. The American faced three break points in the second game and netted a volley on the last to drop serve and fall 2-0 behind.
Garin had to dig deep again in the third game. The Chilean erased three break points and cemented the break for a 3-0 advantage. Paul pulled the break back in game five before losing serve again in the next one after placing a forehand long.
The lower-ranked player gained a boost and provided another break in game eight after the rival's volley error. Thus, Cristian moved 6-2 in front after 54 minutes. Tommy raised his level in the second set, serving well and pressuring his opponent.
Garin hit a double fault in the first game and got broken. Paul clinched a thrilling rally in game five with a volley winner at the net, extend the gap and serving for the set at 5-2. The top seed denied a break point with a crafty drop shot winner.
He seized a set point with a service winner, leveling the overall score after an hour and 32 minutes. They served well in the first seven games of the final set. Cristian earned a break chance at 4-3 after Tommy's careless forehand.
The American denied it with a fine serve & volley combo and locked the result at 4-4. The Chilean missed a game point in game nine and got broken after a double fault. Paul served for the win at 5-4 but failed to move over the top.
Garin made one last push and generated four break points. He seized the last with a volley winner at the net to level the score at 5-5 and extend the battle. The rivalsserved well in the remaining two games and introduced a deciding tie break.
They traded early mini-breaks before Tommy cracked a forehand crosscourt winner in the fourth point for 3-1. Garin pulled the mini-break back in the seventh point after a fine attack, returning to the positive side.
Cristian played a loose drop shot in the ninth point and fell 5-4 behind. Tommy landed a service winner for 6-4 and two match points. He seized the second at 6-5 when his rival missed a backhand, moving over the top and avoiding a setback.
