ROLAND GARROS

May 28, 2025

Tommy Paul

Press Conference

T. PAUL/M. Fucsovics

4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Tommy, can you tell us about what worked tonight.

TOMMY PAUL: I don't really know. I guess throughout the match there were ups and downs on both of our sides. I thought he came out playing very well. Honestly, both of us I felt like at the beginning of the match played really well.

He took it to a level, a better level than I did, took the first two sets. I really had to regroup and try and find way into points, extend points. Was kind of my main goal.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. In the final set, looked really tough physically. You were just fighting through it. Seemed like you kept on going. What was going through your mind? How deep did you have to dig?

TOMMY PAUL: Yeah, I mean, it was a tough five-setter. Every time you come back from two sets down, it's a war mentally. Like I said, for me, the only thing that was really going on in my mind was extending, extending points, extending games, extending the match.

I mean, yeah, wasn't really ready to go home yet. Felt like there was more to do at Roland Garros for me (smiling).

Q. What was going on exactly physically for you?

TOMMY PAUL: I've been dealing with a bunch of things. But just something in my lower ab I've been dealing with. I mean, for most of the match, I mean, I was feeling it. Then there at like 2-All in the fifth, it started... I don't even know if it was like one shot or something, but it started bugging me worse.

I knew that there wasn't any treatment to like really fix it. That's like why we didn't do a medical timeout. I just wanted to hear basically him be like, Oh, you should be fine to keep going.

He didn't tell me that, but... (smiling). It was good to talk to someone, I guess.

Q. What was the struggle like to put that pain aside?

TOMMY PAUL: Yeah, I mean, you know that in that situation you don't want to be in super-long points. I think both of us were kind of tired. I don't think he necessarily wanted to be in long points either.

I wanted to get on offense as fast as possible. That was, like, my main goal. I didn't want to hit too many second serves because he was attacking my second serve pretty well and getting on offense from there.

On my service games, I put priority on my first serves. In my return games, I took a big step back and went for bigger swings to try and get him on his back foot earlier.

A little tactical change from what I was feeling. Honestly, I wish I made that tactical change a little earlier because it ended up being a good play for me throughout the match.

Q. To clarify, you said they didn't tell you that you weren't going to do any damage?

TOMMY PAUL: Yeah, well, I mean, they don't really know what it is. I got to get a scan before I can really know what it is.

But yeah, that area, like your ab, your adductors, I mean, deep spots. If you hurt 'em, it's tough to rehab them, I guess.

Q. That thing about just extending points, the match, is that sort of a new way of thinking or something you've learned in terms of when you get into these situations, simplify things, keep yourself out there?

TOMMY PAUL: Totally. It's all about like making it more simple for myself. I've played many matches where it's two-out-of-three-set matches. I'm getting my ass kicked. I'm looking at the clock. All right, let's try to make this an hour long, stuff like that.

You find yourself changing the rhythm of the match, changing the rhythm of the points, and somehow finding your way back in the match. I've turned matches around just doing that.

I guess when you do three-out-of-five, it's doing the same thing on a larger scale.

Q. All men's matches on, four are Americans. There were years not that long ago when there were zero Americans around on the men's side in the second round. Have you sensed a sort of culture shift or attitude shift over the course of even your time in top level?

TOMMY PAUL: For me, I can speak for myself, definitely. Coming over to the clay, I used to not be very excited to come out here.

Q. Even you, with your junior title?

TOMMY PAUL: Yeah, yeah. I mean, for three, four years ago, I definitely wasn't super comfortable on the clay. Honestly, everything kind of changed a little bit.

Now I come over here and I look at it as an opportunity. I think all the Americans do. I think everyone can play on everything.

I think we have an exciting group. Obviously tough to see Taylor go down early. I mean, we've seen him play great clay court tennis. I think he made finals or semifinals of Monte-Carlo before. He's had big wins on the surface.

I really do think everyone can play on this surface. I remind myself it's just tennis. You're just playing tennis on a different surface. And we're good tennis players. We got to figure it out. I think we're doing a better job of that.

Q. Anyone in the remaining ranks of the American guys who is the one to watch here on clay?

TOMMY PAUL: I mean, I always peep in Sebi's score. He looks like he's handling Brooksby pretty well. I just played Brooksby on clay and it wasn't a lot of fun.

I know he can play on everything. He's a great player.

Ben getting a walkover, it's huge for your body. He'll be feeling really good going into the next round. Not sure who he's playing. Ben can really play on everything also.

Q. You said you'll get a scan. Is that tonight or tomorrow?

TOMMY PAUL: Tomorrow.

Q. What is your level of concern about being able to get back out there?

TOMMY PAUL: I'm going back out there. I'm going back out to play, for sure. I want to go out there with the idea of trying to win.

We'll see what it is. I mean, like I said, it's something that I've been feeling for many weeks, so... Hopefully not doing any damage (smiling).

Q. Does that sort of change your strategy going into best-of-five matches over the next two weeks? Do you try to shorten points, shorten matches, try to do something different?

TOMMY PAUL: No. I mean, when you go out to a match, you don't ever want to, like, I guess change the way you play because of something. That being said, you want to extend points sometimes or play shorter points.

It's not like a mindset. Like I want to do what I have to do to win the match against anybody. I mean, against one person, it might be one thing. Against another person, it might be another.

Yeah, I mean, we're out here doing what we need to do to win.

Q. How much do you pride yourself on your toughness, whether it's being tough to put away today or being able to work through pain or injuries?

TOMMY PAUL: I mean, I, like, really enjoy coming back from down in matches. I think that fires me up. When I'm on court, I know I'm not like the craziest big C'mons or anything on court. But I'm fired up. When I'm down two sets to love, I come back and even it up, I'm excited.

That's, like, something I truly enjoy doing. I mean, not just that. I truly enjoy competing and playing and extending matches, winning battles. I mean, just showing heart on the court.

Q. Your next opponent, Khachanov.

TOMMY PAUL: We just played in Madrid. He's a super-dangerous player. I mean, good serve. He absolutely rips his backhand. The guy who I played in the round before cranked his backhand as well. I have a little bit of experience with that this week.

Yeah, I mean, he's a great player and I got to be ready. I got to bring 100% if I want to get through that match.

I'm excited for the matchup. I'll be ready.