Paul Is First American Semifinalist In Hamburg Since Sampras In 1995

Tommy Paul
Tommy Paul (photo: Witters/Bitpanda Hamburg Open

HAMBURG/WASHINGTON, May 21, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

Tommy Paul is one of just six active American players to win an ATP Tour title on clay. Most of those clay titles have happened in the United States, including Paul’s earlier this year in Houston, Texas. 

However, Paul is making his presence known this week at the Bitpanda Hamburg Open in Germany’s second-largest city this week, in a part of the world that Americans have not enjoyed much success on clay since the turn of the century.

A day after Paul set a tournament record for longest three-set match – three hours and 33 minutes to defeat Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina – the American No. 5 needed much less time and one fewer set to advance to the semifinal round of the ATP 500 event.

In Thursday’s second quarterfinal match, with the roof closed over Center Court at Rothenbaum Tennis Stadium, Paul eliminated the last remaining German player in the draw, No. 65 Daniel Altmaier, 6-2, 7-5, in one hour and 38 minutes. 

The victory was the World No. 26 Paul’s 23rd in 32 matches – most wins for an American player this season – and it advanced him to face No. 3 Alex de Minaur of Australia, who beat No. 7 seed Luciano Darderi of Italy, 6-0, 6-3, in one hour and 34 minutes Thursday evening. De Minaur secured victory on his second match-point opportunity by winning a dazzling and dramatic 27-shot rally to wrap up his 18th triumph of the season. He finished with 30 winners and outpointed Darderi 79-58.

“I thought I returned really well, but it’s tough serving on these courts,” Paul said during his on-court interview with ATP Media. “I feel like the returner in every game it’s hard to get through those tight service games. That’s what ultimately what determined the match today.

“I feel like when I needed to on those deuce points or 30-all points, I came up pretty well in this match. I think that was the difference. From the baseline, I thought it was a pretty even match. I tried to get to the net as much as I could so I think that helped me.”

Paul, who turned 29 last Sunday, along with Aleksandar Kovacevic became the first Americans to reach the Hamburg quarterfinals since Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras in 1995. Now, Paul has once again joined Sampras, who was the last American to reach the Hamburg semifinals in 1995.

After saving seven match points against Etcheverry, Paul denied Altmaier of earning back-to-back Top-30 wins for the first time in his career after the German defeated No. 6 seed Ben Shelton of the United States in the second round on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Paul is through to his 22nd ATP Tour semifinal – his fourth of this season and second on clay. He’s now 18-2 versus players ranked outside the Top 50 on clay since the start of the 2024 season.

Paul hit 21 winners, won 76 percent (28 of 37) of his first-serve points and converted six of 10 break points. He outpointed Altmaier 71-52.

Buse is first Hamburg qualifier into semifinals since 2018

Qualifier Ignacio Buse, the first Peruvian man to reach the Hamburg quarterfinals in the Open Era, advanced to his second ATP 500 semifinal after Rio de Janeiro in February. The 57th-ranked Buse held on to beat No. 34 Ugo Humbert of France, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, in two hours and 46 minutes on Centre Court. Buse rallied from down a double-break at 0-3 in the final set to win six straight games to close out the quarterfinal victory.

Buse reached his third ATP Tour semifinal and became the first qualifier to reach this stage in Hamburg since 2018. He’s up to No. 41 on the PIF ATP Live Rankings and will make his Top 50 debut next week to become the fourth Peruvian to break the Top 50 in the Open Era.

By the conclusion, Buse hit 24 winners to overcome 50 unforced errors. He converted eight of 13 break points and outpointed Humbert 107-103.

During his post-match news conference, Buse was asked to describe his success in Hamburg this week, which has included two qualifying draw victories followed by three wins in the main draw. 

“I think I’m playing the best tennis of my life,” the 22-year-old from Lima said. “I think I’m playing really good so far and I’ve been training really hard the past couple of weeks, too. I hope I can keep improving. Again, I’m really happy for what I’ve achieved this week. I want to keep going.”

In Friday’s semifinal round, Buse will face 94th-ranked lucky loser Aleksandar Kovacevic of the United States, who held off No. 68 Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina, 6-4, 6-7 (10), 6-2, in two hours and 43 minutes to reach the biggest semifinal of his career – his first ATP 500 semifinal. Kovacevic won on his third match-point opportunity, nearly an hour after he was unable to put away the victory during a lengthy, 22-point second-set tie-break, to become the second American along with Tommy Paul to reach the Hamburg semifinals in 31 years.

By the end, Kovacevic struck 41 winners to overcome 48 unforced errors. He saved all seven break points he faced from Ugo Carabelli and outpointed his opponent 111-97.

Around Rothenbaum Tennis Stadium

In the doubles draw, unseeded Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul of France advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 7-6 (3) upset win over No. 4 seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori of Italy, last week’s champions in Rome. The match was suspended by rain on Wednesday and completed on Thursday. Later, Doumbia and Reboul defeated French duo Theo Arribage and Albano Olivetti, 6-4, 3-6, 10-8 in the quarterfinals.

Also, in a matchup of unseeded teams, Guido Andreozzi of Argentina and Manuel Guinard of France advanced to the quarterfinals with a 3-6, 6-0, 10-8 victory over Terence Atmane of France and Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina. Later, Andreozzi and Guinard upset No. 1 seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool, 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 in the quarterfinal round.

In the quarterfinal round, No. 3 seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz of Germany defeated Austrians Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler, 6-3, 7-5. Also, German wild cards Jakob Schnaitter and Mark Wallner upset No. 2 seeds Christian Harrison of the United States and Neal Skupski of Great Britain, 7-5, 6-4. 

In Friday’s semifinals, Krawietz and Puetz will face Andreozzi and Guinard, while Schnaitter and Wallner will oppose Doumbia and Reboul.

Thursday’s Hamburg Open results

Friday’s Hamburg Open order of play

By the numbers

Wednesday’s completion of the second-round match between No. 6 seed Tommy Paul of the United States and Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina was the longest three-set match in tournament history, clocking at three hours and 33 minutes. Paul won 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (7). 

Until 2007, the Hamburg Open was contested in a best-of-5 set format.

“Quotable …”

“Most tournaments you don’t save match points. You kind of feel like you’re playing with house money a little bit. I feel like you can swing a little freer – maybe the nerves don’t’ get there as much – but I’m excited. I feel like I’m playing good tennis and excited to play my next match.”

– No. 6 seed Tommy Paul of the United States, during his on-court interview after saving seven match points to win his second-round match against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, then becoming the first American to reach the Hamburg semifinals since Pete Sampras.

 

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