Japan Open: Machac downs Paul to make quarters

Tomas Machac advanced to the last eight of the Japan Open by edging out American Tommy Paul, the No 5 seed, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo on Saturday.

Machac and Paul produced a close fight that extended beyond two and half hours.

The two challenged each other’s serves a combined 25 times, with Paul converting four times against Machac’s three. They registered an an equal number of winners, 33.

Machac, ranked No 34, will face the winner of the match between Australian qualifier Christopher O’Connell and American qualifier Alex Michelsen next.

Ahead of his victory, Tomas Machac edged out Australian Alexei Popyrin (6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-5).

Paul, ranked No 13, won against Italian Matteo Arnaldi (6-3, 6-2) in the previous round of the Tokyo Open.

Tokyo ATP 500, other second-round results (Ariake Colosseum, hard, USD 1.818.380, most recent results first):

• Yoshihito Nishioka vs. Holger Rune
• Jordan Thompson vs. Kei Nishikori
• Christopher O’Connell vs. Alex Michelsen
• Ugo Humbert beat Brandon Nakashima: 6-3, 6-2
• Arthur Fils beat Matteo Berrettini: 6-7 (5), 0-0 ret.
• Ben Shelton (8) beat Mariano Navone: 6-4, 6-3
• Jack Draper beat Hubert Hurkacz (2): 6-4, 6-4

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