Adelaide International 2
Paul tames Opelka in Adelaide, notches first win in 4 months
Top seed Davidovich Fokina, Humbert, Munar also advance at hard-court ATP 250
January 14, 2026
Sarah Reed/Getty Images
Tommy Paul records his first win since the US Open in August.
By Jerome Coombe
Tommy Paul needed just one extra crack at neutralising a ‘servebot’ and getting his 2026 season rolling on Wednesday, when he notched his first tour-level win in four months at the Adelaide International.
After falling to booming Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard last week in Brisbane — his first tour-level match since the US Open in August — Paul responded in Adelaide to defeat countryman Reilly Opelka 6-4, 6-4 and reach the quarter-finals. The 28-year-old American had been sidelined late in 2025 due to a lingering foot injury but showed no ill effects on his return to Adelaide, where he is a two-time semi-finalist.
“I played someone with a pretty similar gamestyle last week, so that might’ve helped me,” joked Paul. “I haven’t been playing tournaments, but I’ve been practising. I usually like the courts in Australia, it always matches up with my game. It’s good to be back. I’m happy with how my body is and I’m excited to get the year really going.”
First win of the season 🙌
No. 2 seed @TommyPaul1 knocks out compatriot Opelka 6-4, 6-4 to reach his sixth @AdelaideTennis quarter-final.#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 World No. 21 after missing the final three months of 2025. The second seed will next face Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic, who downed Italian doubles star Andrea Vavassori 6-2, 7-6(5).
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who is competing as the top seed at an ATP Tour event for the first time in his career, also recorded his first win of the 2026 season. The Spaniard dismantled Aussie wild card Rinky Hijikata 6-3, 6-2 and will meet Valentin Vacherot in the quarter-finals.
Fifth seed and reigning Shanghai champion Vacherot advanced on Wednesday after home favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrew from their second-round clash due to a right shoulder injury. In his opener — his first singles appearance in nearly 12 months due to pectoral surgery — he battled past Sebastian Korda, but was unable to take to court in the next round.
Earlier in Adelaide, Jaume Munar continued his impressive form by upsetting third seed Francisco Cerundolo 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to notch his 17th win over a Top 20 player. Munar is coming off the back of an impressive 2025 season, during which he tallied a personal-best 31 tour-level victories, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, and meets eighth seed Tomas Machac in the quarter-finals.
Ugo Humbert will take a 2-0 Lexus ATP Head2Head lead into his quarter-final clash with Alexander Shevchenko, who also advanced on Wednesday. Humbert downed fourth seed Tallon Griekspoor 6-1, 6-4 in just 78 minutes, while Shevchenko beat Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 7-6(6).
