IT WAS a mixed bag in Dallas for local hopes with two of the four seeded stars – on track to face off in the semi-finals – bowing out in the Round of 16. Fortunately for third seed Tommy Paul, he was able to shake off the fact he failed to serve out the match in the second set against friend and qualifier Ethan Quinn, to win 6-4 5-7 6-4 in two hours and 13 minutes.

Paul is the reigning Dallas Open champion and lived to fight another day after being 30-0 up at 6-4 5-4 in the second set. Failing to capitalise on his chances late in that service game, Quinn took his opportunity to break, then win the last two games and secure the second set.

Luckily Paul was able to regain his composure after that missed chance to create a crucial service break in the deciding set and book his place in the quarter finals. He hit 33 winners to Quinn’s 28, while both players made 44 unforced errors.

They each served nine aces, with Paul marginally ahead on both first and second serve points won (76 and 57 per cent respectively compared to 72 and 52 per cent), though Quinn served at a higher clip, and just one break separated the two players.

The American said he felt comfortable readjusting and not worrying too much about the missed opportunity in set two.

“I’ve been in these situations a little bit more,” Paul said post-match. “I felt a little more comfortable probably. That’s how you win the big matches, being better in the big moments. I tried to do that today. It would’ve been nice to serve out the second set, but do it in three.”

It was a rare moment of celebrations for the United States fans with Paul the sole seed from the day to get up. He had to watch as fifth seed Frances Tiafoe went down to the in-form Yoshihito Nishioka, and fourth seed Ben Shelton bowed out to Spaniard Jaume Munar. Later on, top seed and tournament favourite Taylor Fritz went down to Canadian Denis Shapovalov after being two points away from victory, 2-6 6-3 7-6.

Paul will face another American who did win on the day, in the form of towering serve bot Reilly Opelka. The 6’11” giant produced 18 aces in two and a half hours during his victory over Brit Cameron Norrie 4-6 7-6 6-4 to set up a first ever head-to-head between the pair.

2025 DALLAS OPEN ATP 500 – ROUND OF 16 RESULTS:

Denis Shapovalov (CAN) defeated [1] Taylor Fritz (USA) 2-6 6-3 7-6
[2] Casper Ruud (NOR) defeated Michael Mmoh (USA) 6-1 6-4
[3] Taylor Fritz (USA) defeated [Q] Ethan Quinn (USA) 6-4 5-7 6-4
Jaume Munar (ESP) defeated [4] Ben Shelton (USA) 6-2 7-6
Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) defeated [5] Frances Tiafoe (USA) 3-6 6-4 6-3
[6] Tomas Machac (CZE) defeated Rinky Hijikata (AUS) 6-4 7-6
[8] Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP)
[WC] Reilly Opelka (USA) defeated Cameron Norrie (GBR) 4-6 7-6 6-4