Tomas Machac snatches win from Tommy Paul with late Tokyo push; gets Alex Michelsen next

On Saturday, Tomas Machac found himself playing from behind against Tommy Paul for much of their Tokyo contest until the two reached a decisive tiebreaker. Rising to the occasion, the Czech secured a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory to book his place in the quarterfinals.

Paul became the sixth seeded competitor knocked out prior to the last eight. Before seeing the match slip through his fingertips, there were moments that would have helped the No. 5 seed avoid the disappointing outcome—one that dented Paul’s hopes of gaining ground in the ATP Finals race to Turin.

There were the four break points that went unconverted in the opening game of the second set, and later three game points that would have brought him to 3-3 after getting back on serve. In the decider, Paul led 3-0 and came within two points of the finish line up 5-4, deuce. Machac refused to fold, hitting his spots at the service line when he needed most.

In the eventual tie-break, the 23-year-old hammered a backhand return up the line off Paul’s second serve to earn the first mini break. Ensuring he backed it up by closing a backhand drop volley, Machac eventually cracked two first serves to deny Paul any hope of controlling either point in seizing the win at the 2:34 mark.

“I just had to play much better in the second set. The third set was unbelievable from my side,” Machac told ATP Media afterwards. “It’s tough conditions, but for me it’s great. And cold.”

Machac moved to 6-1 against American opponents in tour-level main draws this season. The world No. 34 will look to improve that record even further when he meets Alex Michelsen for a semifinal spot.

The Aliso Viejo, Calif. native cruised past Christopher O’Connell, 6-1, 6-4, to claim a meeting between qualifiers. Michelsen saved all three break points he faced to reach his seventh quarterfinal of the year. The 20-year-old was beaten by Machac in the quarterfinals of the Geneva Open on clay earlier this season.