Tommy Paul reaches Hamburg Open final after stunning de Minaur comeback
Synopsis
Tommy Paul was staring down a straight-sets loss before winning nine straight games to reach the Hamburg Open final — his 10th ATP Tour-level decider. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Learner Tien survived four missed match points to become the youngest Geneva finalist since 1990. Two finals, two American storylines, and a history-making Peruvian qualifier in the mix.
Key Takeaways
Tommy Paul defeated Alex de Minaur 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the Hamburg Open final on 23 May .
Paul won nine consecutive games after trailing 3-0 in the second set — his 10th ATP Tour-level final .
Qualifier Ignacio Buse is the first Peruvian man in an ATP Tour final since Luis Horna in 2007 .
Learner Tien , 20, reached the Geneva Open final — the youngest finalist there since Sergi Bruguera in 1990 .
Mariano Navone upset three-time champion Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-2 to set up the Geneva final.
The Geneva final winner will claim the second ATP Tour title of their career.
Tommy Paul produced a remarkable turnaround to book his place in the Hamburg Open final on 23 May, defeating Australia's Alex de Minaur 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinal at Hamburg, Germany. The win is Paul's 10th ATP Tour-level final appearance and his second on clay this season.
Paul's Stunning Comeback
The sixth-seeded American looked headed for a straight-sets defeat after dropping the opening set and falling 3-0 down in the second. What followed was a masterclass in baseline resilience — Paul reeled off nine consecutive games to seize complete control of the match. The 28-year-old's ability to grind from the back of the court gradually exposed de Minaur's serve, with the Australian winning only 44 percent of his second-serve points despite saving 13 of 17 break points.
Paul's Final Opponent: History-Making Buse
Paul will face qualifier Ignacio Buse in Saturday's final. The 22-year-old Peruvian dismantled lucky loser Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-1, 6-4 in just 64 minutes, serving with remarkable efficiency — winning 89 percent of his service points despite landing only 42 percent of first serves. Buse's run makes him the first Peruvian man to reach an ATP Tour-level final since Luis Horna in 2007, a milestone that has captured attention across South American tennis circles.
Tien Makes History in Geneva
Across the Alps at the Geneva Open in Switzerland, American youngster Learner Tien edged Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(5) to reach the first clay-court final of his career. The 20-year-old led 6-1 in the deciding tiebreak but squandered four match points before converting on his fifth. His composure under pressure ultimately held, securing a result that makes him the youngest Geneva finalist since Sergi Bruguera in 1990 and the first American man to reach a Geneva final since Aaron Krickstein in 1984.
Navone Stuns Ruud to Set Up Geneva Final
Tien's final opponent will be Argentina's Mariano Navone, who delivered one of the week's biggest upsets by defeating three-time Geneva champion Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-2. Navone struck 27 winners and committed fewer unforced errors than the Norwegian, controlling the match from start to finish. The Geneva final carries added significance — the winner will claim the second ATP Tour-level title of their career.
What's Next
Both Hamburg and Geneva finals are scheduled for Saturday, 24 May. Paul, a clay-court title holder from Houston this season, enters as favourite in Hamburg, while the Geneva final between two rising talents sets up as one of the more unpredictable title matches of the clay swing.
Point of View
But the more consequential story may be Buse's run. A qualifier from Peru reaching an ATP Tour final in 2025 signals that South American clay-court depth — long concentrated in Argentina and Brazil — is spreading. Tien's Geneva run, meanwhile, adds to a growing body of evidence that American men's tennis has genuine youth coming through, not just at the top but in the 19-22 age bracket. The question for both Tien and Buse is whether a final appearance converts into a title — and whether clay form translates when Roland Garros begins.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the score in the Tommy Paul vs Alex de Minaur Hamburg semifinal?
Tommy Paul defeated Alex de Minaur 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the Hamburg Open semifinal on 23 May. Paul recovered from losing the first set and falling 3-0 down in the second by winning nine consecutive games.
Who is Ignacio Buse and why is his Hamburg final appearance historic?
Ignacio Buse is a 22-year-old Peruvian qualifier who reached the Hamburg Open final by beating Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-1, 6-4. He is the first Peruvian man to reach an ATP Tour-level final since Luis Horna in 2007.
How did Learner Tien reach the Geneva Open final?
Learner Tien defeated Alexander Bublik 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(5) in the Geneva Open semifinal. He led 6-1 in the deciding tiebreak but missed four match points before converting on his fifth attempt.
Who did Mariano Navone beat to reach the Geneva final?
Mariano Navone upset three-time Geneva champion Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-2 in the semifinal, hitting 27 winners and committing fewer unforced errors throughout the match.
What records did Learner Tien set at the Geneva Open?
Tien became the youngest Geneva finalist since Sergi Bruguera in 1990 and the first American man to reach a Geneva Open final since Aaron Krickstein in 1984. He is 20 years old.
