By Blair Henley | Tuesday, April 5, 2016
"It’s definitely a challenge, and I love it," says 2015 Roland Garros junior champion Tommy Paul of adjusting to life on the ATP Tour.
Photo credit: Lecco Channel News
A player’s rookie season on the ATP World Tour, often chock full of losses and travel to uninviting locales, can serve as a painful reality check for successful juniors.
Tommy Paul isn’t fazed.
Watch: Roger Federer Trains For Monte Carlo Return
The 18-year-old American is soaking in his first full year of professional tennis. After defeating friend and compatriot Taylor Fritz in capturing the 2015 Roland Garros junior title and reaching the US Open junior final where he fell to Fritz, Paul has used his momentum to climb to a career-high ATP rank of No. 200.
We caught up with the 6’2” New Jersey native in Houston, Texas, where he captured his first ATP main draw win with doubles partner and friend, Reilly Opelka, at the US Men’s Clay Court Championships. The wild card plays No. 8-seeded Paolo Lorenzi in his opening-round singles match on Court 3 today.
Tennis Now: You’re back on clay here in Houston. People tend to discredit American’s on this surface. Why do you think you’ve had success?
Tommy Paul: My first couple of years playing tennis, I only played on green clay. I played at a tennis center that only had clay courts. I got comfortable on it at a young age. I like hard now, too. I like everything.
TN: You and Taylor Fritz were the Americans to watch after great junior seasons last year. Taylor has had a slightly quicker upswing. Knowing you were right at his level for most of last year, is that a hard pill to swallow?
Tommy Paul: I’m definitely really happy for him. We are really close friends. Seeing that he can do it just shows me that I can, too. I just have to keep working harder. It definitely pushes me. Mostly I’m just happy for him and happy American tennis is doing a little bit better. Hopefully we can keep it going.
TN: Coming from juniors, it can be hard to take the repeated losses that you get in the pros. How are you adjusting to that?
Tommy Paul: I actually really like it. It’s definitely tough, but it’s the journey. I’m at the beginning of the journey, starting my first full calendar year in the pros. I like playing all of these older guys. It’s definitely a challenge, and I love it.
TN: What would you say are your biggest strengths and weaknesses on the court at the moment?
Tommy Paul: My forehand is probably my strength. I feel like I move pretty well on the court. My weakness? Ooh, I don’t know. I like to think I don’t have one (laughs). I’m going to let everyone else feel that one out.
TN: You hit with Roger Federer in Miami. What was that like?
Tommy Paul: I hit with him at the US Open two years ago, and it was awesome back then. This time we had a private court to ourselves, and we had a lot more time to talk. It was really nice getting to know him.
TN: Did he have any advice for you?
Tommy Paul: He was just telling me some stories about when he was younger playing tennis. I’d rather not [repeat them]. I’m not sure if he wants everyone to know (laughs).
TN: What words do you hear most often out of your coach Diego Moyano’s mouth?
Tommy Paul: Va. It means “go” or “keep going” in Spanish. Every second, he’s saying, “Va, va, va.” It’s insane!
TN: What has been the toughest thing to get used to about life on tour?
Tommy Paul: I really like all of it. Maybe just adjusting to all of the languages and places you go? I like learning about all the new foods, but sometimes you come across some foods you don’t really like. My coach likes to make me try new stuff. Everywhere we go, he’s like, “We’re going to try this. We’re going to try that.”
TN: You list your favorite shot as an overhead. Is depressing that you get so few of them in a match?
Tommy Paul: The more overheads in a match the better. I love ‘em. From the beginning, it was probably the easiest shot for me and the most satisfying, for sure.
TN: Best subject in school?
Tommy Paul: Oh, wow (laughs). Starting off, it was math. Then I hit, like, high school, and it was tough. I would probably say English was the easiest in high school.
TN: If you have some extra money in your bank account, what do you spend it on?
Tommy Paul: How much extra money are we talking? I’m a huge shoe person. I like shoes a lot. I’m also a huge car person, but the money goes fast with the cars.
TN: What is your emoji of choice?
Tommy Paul: I like the chili pepper. Two chili peppers next to each other is “chili, chili” and that means good. Chili, chili.
TN: Favorite social media outlet?
Tommy Paul: Instagram
TN: Most embarrassing song on your iPod?
Tommy Paul: Justin Bieber…what’s the song? I’m going to check right now. [Whips out iPhone] Love Yourself!
TN: If you had a DJ name, what would it be?
Tommy Paul: T-Chili
#JuicedUp
A video posted by Tommy Paul (@tommypaull) on
TN: Strangest fan encounter?
Tommy Paul: One person I was sitting next to on a plane tried to coach me. They were like, “No, you need to start hitting your backhand more down the line. You hit too much crosscourt. I was like, ‘OK, thanks.’”
TN: Favorite candy
Tommy Paul: Swedish Fish
TN: When you lived at home, what was the thing your mom got mad at you for?
Tommy Paul: Sleeping in too late. She would always come upstairs mad because I always sleep as late as I can.
TN: Sport you’re best at other than tennis.
Tommy Paul: Probably basketball. I like to shoot around quite a bit.
TN: Sport you’re worst at.
Tommy Paul: I’m pretty bad at a lot of sports, but I’m really bad at soccer. I wish I was good.
TN: How many pedicures have you had in your lifetime?
Tommy Paul: I really like pedicures, a lot. I’ve probably had, like, four this year already.