Tommy Paul tames Reilly Opelka for first win in 4 months in Adelaide | ATP Tour
adelaide international 2
Paul tames Opel for first win in four months in Adelaide
Top seeds Davidovich Fokina, Humbert, and Munar also advanced to the hard court ATP 250
January 14, 2026
Sarah Reid/Getty Images
Tommy Paul notched his first win since the U.S. Open in August.
Jerome Coombe
Tommy Paul needed just a little more work to neutralize the Serving Robot and get his 2026 season started as he claimed his first tour-level victory in four months at the Adelaide International on Wednesday.
Paul lost to the booming Frenchman Giovanni Mpehi-Pericard in Brisbane last week (his first tour-level match since the US Open in August), before responding in Adelaide, defeating compatriot Reilly Opelka 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals. The 28-year-old American was sidelined with a long-term foot injury late in 2025 but has suffered no ill effects since returning to Adelaide, where he has twice reached the semi-finals.
“I played against a guy last week who has a very similar play style, so that probably helps,” Paul joked. “I haven’t played a tournament but I’ve been practicing. I usually like the Australian courses and it always matches my game. It’s good to be back. I’m happy with my fitness and excited to really get going this year.”
First win of the season🙌
No. 2 seed @TommyPaul1 Defeat compatriot Opelka 6-4, 6-4 to advance to sixth place @adelaidetennis Quarterfinals.#adelaidetennis pic.twitter.com/wRyUs0NIfA
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 14, 2026
Paul reached a career-high No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings last June, but slipped to No. 21 in the world after missing the final three months of 2025. The second seed will next face Australian qualifier Alexander Vukic, who defeated Italian doubles star Andrea Vavassori 6-2, 7-6(5).
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina participated in an ATP Tour event as the top seed for the first time in his career and scored his first victory of the 2026 season. The Spaniard defeated Australian wildcard Hijikata Lynch 6-3, 6-2 and will face Valentin Vachero in the quarter-finals.
Fifth seed and defending Shanghai champion Vacherot advanced on Wednesday after home favorite Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrew from the second round with a right shoulder injury. In his first match, competing in singles for the first time in nearly 12 months following pectoral muscle surgery, he defeated Sebastian Korda but failed to qualify for the next round.
Earlier in Adelaide, Jaume Munar continued his impressive form, beating third seed Francisco Cerundolo 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 for his 17th win over a top-20 player. Munnar is coming off an impressive 2025 season, during which he notched a personal-best 31 tour-level wins according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index and met eighth seed Tomas Machak in the quarter-finals.
Ugo Humbert will take a 2-0 Lexus ATP head-to-head lead into the quarterfinals against Alexander Shevchenko, who also advanced on Wednesday. Humbert needed just 78 minutes to defeat fourth seed Talon Grikspur 6-1, 6-4, while Shevchenko defeated Marton Fucsovich 6-3, 7-6(6).
