Just three days after bowing out in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Tommy Paul found himself at home in Boca Raton, Florida, wrestling with jet lag and a stinging defeat. Despite having several chances in his match against Alexander Zverev, particularly in the initial two sets that slipped away in tiebreaks, Paul eventually fell: 7-6 (1), 7-6 (0), 2-6, 6-1. This loss crushed his hopes of advancing to a second career major semifinal and possibly making it to his first Grand Slam final.
While Zverev was taking on Novak Djokovic in the Rod Laver Arena to snag a spot in the Australian Open final, Paul was sound asleep nearly 9,700 miles away. That is, until his girlfriend, influencer Paige Lorenze, woke him up at 4 a.m. “She wakes me up to tell me that Novak pulled out in the semis due to an injury after a set, and I was like, ‘Wow, seriously?'” Paul chuckled while speaking to ESPN. “Waking me up at 4 for that? It’s not a ‘What if?’ scenario but more of a ‘If I would have.'”
Fast forward a little over a month, and rather than dwelling in disappointment, the experience served as fuel for Paul. Having clinched three tour titles in 2024 and breaking into the top ten rankings after Melbourne, the 27-year-old is more driven than ever, convinced that even greater achievements lie ahead. Right after stepping off the court against Zverev, he was acutely aware of areas needing improvement—his first serve, for instance. However, he also gleaned valuable lessons he believes will aid him in future opportunities.
“In a way, I lost that match, but Zverev won it too. I need to find a way to secure those wins,” Paul shared. “You can’t rely on your opponent’s mistakes; against great players, you have to seize those matches. That’s what needs correction.”
Ranked No. 10 and the second-highest American, Paul isn’t one to sulk after a tough loss, reveals his seasoned coach, Brad Stine. “With some guys, it’s like a funeral for days every time they lose, but Tommy isn’t like that,” Stine told ESPN. “Within about 20 minutes, we’re analyzing the match over a beer. We discuss what happened and how to utilize it moving forward.”
Paul’s upbeat nature and eagerness to improve piqued Stine’s interest over five years ago, just before the 2020 season began. Back then, Paul, the 2015 junior French Open champion, was ranked No. 90, with no victories in his three major main draw appearances. Stine, who had coached Jim Courier to the top world rank, saw potential in Paul and devised a comprehensive five-year plan. They tackled a list of 11 improvements for Paul’s game, which began to bear fruit pretty quickly.
Shortly after, Paul reached the third round of the Australian Open, toppling No. 18 seed Grigor Dimitrov in the process. By the year’s end, he clinched his first top-10 victory against Zverev at the Mexican Open and completed Stine’s list. His first ATP title came in 2021 at Stockholm, and with each success, his confidence and hunger grew.
“Tommy said, ‘I want more of this,’” Stine recalled. “Instead of being satisfied, he was thrilled and eager to repeat it.” The following season, Paul secured four top-10 wins, including a notable victory over Rafael Nadal at the Paris Masters, climbing further up the rankings—a key goal for Paul and Stine. Before the 2023 season, Paul had an epiphany: “I don’t want to be just really good, I want to be great,” he told Stine.
Unlike others who might find such a quest daunting, Paul manages to strike a “healthy balance” on this journey, according to Stine. “Tommy balances the desire for greatness with fun and enjoyment in competition, without letting rankings consume him. That’s rare,” said Stine. Paul kicked off 2023 by advancing to his first major semifinal at the Australian Open, marking the first American male since Andy Roddick in 2009 to achieve this, followed by a top-20 debut. The season saw several firsts, including reaching a 500-level final and beating world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.
Though his ranking didn’t always reflect his potential, Paul never doubted his ability to win tournaments. In 2024, he achieved his biggest title at the 500-level Queen’s Club Championships, clinched the Dallas Open again, and triumphed in Stockholm. He also reached Wimbledon’s quarterfinals and won Olympic bronze in doubles with Taylor Fritz.
“Every tournament is about winning,” Paul declared. “If you’re not arriving with that mindset, then why participate? Now, I see tournaments as missions: manage the early rounds, and then aim for the title when it counts. My confidence going into tournaments is much higher now.”
Unfortunately, a small shoulder muscle tear began to trouble him in Australia, persisting into his title defense in Dallas this year. After a semifinal exit and a subsequent withdrawal from the Delray Beach Open near his Boca Raton home, Paul chose recovery over risk, gearing up for the spring hard-court season. On a brighter note, staying home allowed him to witness the Philadelphia Eagles’ dominant Super Bowl win. “I loved the thorough win,” he admitted. “Much better than a nail-biter.”
As illness took its toll on several players, including Paul, they withdrew from the Mexican Open, just before an anticipated appearance in the MGM Rewards Slam in Las Vegas. Looking ahead, he plans to improve upon his 2024 semifinal run at Indian Wells and rack up valuable points at the Miami Open, where an ankle injury marred his previous bid.
Paul credits his progress to Stine and his supporting team, whom he considers akin to family. “We gel well together,” he stated. “Whether via group chats or just casual talks, we communicate daily. It’s a special team.”
Having reached his third Slam quarterfinal at the 2025 Australian Open, Paul sees it not as a peak but a steppingstone toward his ultimate dream: a major title. Entering the top 10 felt significant but not transformative in his journey.
“Not much has changed since I reached the top 10,” Paul reflected. “I maintain my daily routine. What’s different are my ambitions: aiming for the top five. To do that, you have to envision holding the trophy at Masters 1000s. That’s my new goal.”
