Tommy Paul claimed his second title at the BNP Paribas Nordic Open on Sunday after an impressive final performance against world No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov. The fourth-seeded American won 6-4, 6-3, while also boosting his chances of reaching the ATP Finals in Turin.
Paul got off to a blazing start, winning 12 of the first 14 points in the final. Although Dimitrov fought his way back, every time the 33-year-old Bulgarian seemed to gain momentum, Paul shifted into a higher gear.
"It was much closer than the score shows. I love playing in Stockholm, and the conditions here suit me perfectly," commented Tommy Paul.
Paul's success in Stockholm means that the 27-year-old joins a distinguished American group that includes Stan Smith, Arthur Ashe, John McEnroe, and James Blake, all of whom have also won the prestigious ATP tournament at least twice.
The 55th edition of the BNP Paribas Nordic Open was a success in many respects. No other ATP tournament in the 250 category has managed to attract three top 10 players this year. It was also the first time in 27 years that three players from the top 10 reached the quarterfinals in Stockholm.
The strong lineup was certainly a contributing factor to the well-filled stands and the fantastic atmosphere during this year’s competition. Tickets sold like never before, with many sessions completely sold out. Overall, the week set a new ticket sales record for the Royal Tennis Hall, where a total of 49 editions of the tournament have been held.
