American Denis Kudla accomplished a comeback in opposition to Jordan Thompson on Monday on the Delray Beach Open with a dominant efficiency in a third-set tie-break. The 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) victory avenged a straight-sets loss for Kudla in opposition to the Aussie final week in Dallas.

«I thought we both served well, we were both playing pretty physical,» Kudla stated post-match. «But whoever really got in front of the point stayed in front. Obviously it came down to a few points at the end and I was happy to execute.»

The 30-year-old was trailing by a set and an early break on the ATP 250, however instantly levelled the second set after shedding his opening service sport. He saved two break factors halfway by set two earlier than forcing a last set together with his second break of the match.

After a last set with out a single break level, the Kiev-born Kudla took management of the tie-break by profitable 4 straight factors from 1/1. He survived 19 aces from Thompson within the two-hour, 36-minute match, hitting 22 winners within the victory. 

Second seed Tommy Paul awaits Kudla within the second spherical, with each males a part of the United States Davis Cup group that beat Uzbekistan earlier this month. They will contest their second ATP Head2Headvert matchup, with Paul profitable their earlier encounter in 2019 in Washington. Kudla beat Paul in 4 different skilled matches under tour-level from 2015-18.

Ecuador’s Emilio Gomez additionally superior early on Monday with a 7-6(3), 6-4 win in opposition to Wu Tung-Lin. The son of former world No. 4 Andres Gomez, the 30-year-old reached his first ATP Tour quarter-final final week in Dallas. He will meet high seed Taylor Fritz subsequent.

Later within the day, Portuguese qualifier Nuno Borges defeated fortunate loser Steve Johnson 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to arrange a second-round assembly with fourth seed Miomir Kecmanovic. It was the second time in as many days that Borges beat Johnson, after his straight-sets win in opposition to the American within the last spherical of qualifying on Sunday.