Tommy Paul overcame Casper Ruud 6-2 1-6 6-3 to reach his second Masters 1000 semifinal at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Paul reached the Australian Open semifinal and his first Masters 1000 semifinal in Toronto in 2023 and won his second title in Dallas earlier this year.
Ruud saved two break points in the first game of the opening set, but Paul converted his third break point. Paul went up a second break to race out to a 4-0 lead. Ruud pulled one break back in the sixth game for 2-4, but Paul converted his third break point to open up a 5-2 lead and served out the first set at 15.
Ruud converted his second break point in the second game to open up a 3-0 lead. Ruud broke for the second time at 15 in the sixth game to race out to a 5-1 lead. Paul did not convert two break points in the seventh game before Ruud served out on his second set point at the third deuce.
Paul broke in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead in the third set. Ruud broke back in the seventh game for 3-4.
Paul broke for the second time in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead. The US player saved two break points with smash and a service winner when he was serving out the match before sealing the win on his second match point.
“Casper came out in the second set and changed the momentum. His energy was way better and I was playing the match on his terms in the second set. I think in the third game of the third set he had some chances and it was tough game to get out of and it kind of set the tone. He got the break back and I could have got down on myself but I think I did a good job regrouping”, said Paul.
Ruud was aiming to reach his eighth Masters 1000 and the first since Rome last May.
Paul improved to 2-4 in his head-to-head matches against Ruud.
Paul will face either Danil Medvedev or Holger Rune in the semifinal.