"I couldn’t play much worse": Tommy Paul details difficult match despite win at 2023 Paris Masters

In a match that looked like it was over after the first set, Tommy Paul survived an early onslaught from Frenchman Richard Gasquet, denying the hometown favorite a second round berth at the 2023 Paris Masters.

Gasquet breezed through a 6-0 first set in just 27 minutes, with the Parisian crowd already dreaming of a second round appearance at the Paris Masters for their hero. However, Paul fought back, taking the second set and saving a handful of match points in the third-set tiebreaker, before escaping with a 0-6 6-2 7-6(6) victory.

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Paul reveals mindset during final set

The American raced to a 5-2 lead in the final set, but was unable to close out the match as the home crowd spurred Gasquet to level the match at 5-5. The 37-year old Frenchman soon held three match points at 6-3 in the tiebreak, but Paul fought back to clinch a hard-fought victory.

"I was looking to make as many balls as I can and make the points longer,” Paul said in his post-match interview. "I couldn't play much worse.

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"At 3-6 in the breaker I was thinking about flights back to the States. It was a crazy match, one of the craziest I’ve ever played."

Paul will face Botic van de Zandschulp in the next round, after the Dutchman defeated Adrian Mannarino in his opening round match.