Houston
\n Paul survives Tiafoe & rain delay, reaches first final on clay in Houston<\/p>\n
Fourth seed to face Burruchaga in Sunday’s final<\/p>\n
April 04, 2026<\/p>\n
Kenneth Richmond\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Tommy Paul defeated Frances Tiafoe on Saturday in Houston.
\n By ATP Staff<\/p>\n
Tommy Paul<\/a> marched into his first ATP Tour clay-court final on Saturday when he battled through a gruelling three-set thriller to outlast Frances Tiafoe<\/a> in the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship<\/a> semi-finals.<\/p>\n The American prevailed 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(7) in a two-hour, 45-minute showdown, advancing to his second final of the season and the ninth of his career. With the victory, Paul ended the second seed\u2019s hopes of reaching his fourth consecutive championship match at the ATP 250 event in Houston.<\/p>\n “I did a good job of playing when I needed to,” Paul said. “That was an incredible match with Big Foe.”<\/p>\n With the victory, the 28-year-old improved to 4-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Tiafoe. The American will aim to win his first title of the season when he faces Roman Andres<\/a> Burruchaga in Sunday’s final.<\/p>\n Burruchaga notched a breakthrough semi-final victory earlier on Saturday. With his 6-1, 6-1 win against countryman and good friend Thiago Agustin Tirante<\/a>, the 24-year-old marched into his first ATP Tour final. <\/p>\n \u201cWe are very close friends, so it is never easy,\u201d Burruchaga said. \u201cIt was a very tough match, so I am happy.\u201d<\/p>\n