World No. 21 Alejandro Davidovich bowed out of the US Open this Friday after a tough defeat to an American opponent, with nothing clicking for most of the match except a bright moment in the fourth set.
Tommy Paul, playing with determination and precision, claimed the victory in a straight-forward opening surge and closed it out 6-1, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 after two hours and nineteen minutes of play.
Davidovich, who had been aiming to advance beyond the fourth round for the second time this season, leaves New York with his progress limited to the round of 16 in this slam, a contrast to the earlier rounds where he had shown strong form. Chasing a title that would keep him in the conversation among the sport’s elite, the Spaniard’s run this year remains interrupted by a difficult loss against Paul.
In 2024, Paul has managed to defeat Davidovich across three meetings, including late-season clashes in the Australian Open and the Miami Masters 1000, underscoring a recurring challenge for the Spaniard this year.
Paul appears to pose a unique problem for Davidovich, often sapping pace and forcing errors with his steadiness and aggression. The head-to-head record between Paul and Davidovich mirrors a tougher trend for the Spaniard against the Americans this season.
Set two and a half brought a noon start on Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York’s iconic center court, a venue capable of seating nearly 24,000 spectators where both players sought momentum in a high-stakes match. Davidovich arrived with confident momentum from the Toronto Masters 1000 semifinals and strong showings in the opening rounds of the US Open, where he had not dropped a set yet in the event. He also appeared to have moved past the back issues that briefly sidelined him at Cincinnati.
From the opening game it was clear that Davidovich would need his best tennis to challenge Paul, but the American jumped out quickly. Paul broke serve early in the match and held his advantage to close the first set at 6-1, leaving little room for a comeback in the early phase. He pushed the pace, showing a blend of aggressive returns and steady serving that left Davidovich pressurized and almost overwhelmed at times.
Davidovich found his rhythm only in the third set, trading blows with Paul and turning the tide for a stretch. The Spaniard adjusted his serve, increased first-serve percentage, and moved with greater intent, producing a more dynamic baseline game. The improvement was evident as he collected a notable 37% of first-serve points in the earlier stages, climbing to around 82% in the third set, marking a dramatic shift in performance.
The resurgence suggested a possible turnaround, as Davidovich secured a late-game push in the fourth set with a brighter offensive posture and a more aggressive approach. Yet Paul matched every wave of momentum, snuffing out the rally and breaking at key moments to seal the match and ensure a straightforward path to the quarterfinals. The final scoreline reflected Davidovich’s late fight but confirmed Paul’s decisive advantage when it mattered most.
Between sets, the locker-room mood was described as a drama, with Davidovich stepping back onto the court reinvigorated, as if a weight had been lifted. He entered the fourth set with renewed intent and a calmer demeanor, aiming to stabilize service games and leverage opportunities from the back of the court. Paul, however, remained composed, maintaining a steady level and capitalizing on chances when they appeared.
Paul’s performance in this matchup reinforces a pattern this year: his ability to apply pressure on opponents and force errors at crucial moments. For Davidovich, there remains potential brides of improvement—time to refine the return game, enhance consistency under pace, and build on the resilience shown in late sets to contend with aggressive baseliners on big stages.
In the end, the match concluded with Paul advancing and Davidovich left to regroup. The Spaniard’s effort kept him in the conversation for strong showings throughout the season, but this particular defeat underscored the ongoing challenge of translating potential into consistent results against rising American contenders at Grand Slam events. The crowd, full of energy and support, appreciated the rivalry and the level of tennis on display, with both players giving their all for every point. The result sealed a promising moment for Paul as he moves forward in the tournament, while Davidovich must rebuild ahead of the next opportunities on the calendar. This clash added another chapter to their year-long narrative and highlighted the competitive depth of the US Open field. At stake was not just a match but a statement about the evolving dynamics of Spanish and American tennis on the biggest stages. [AP attribution]