The Miami Open did not go as planned for Tommy Paul, but he shook off the defeat with a little help from his inner circle. Just a day after losing to France’s Arthur Fils, instead of wallowing in a South Florida hotel room, the 22nd-seeded American powered through the crushing disappointment to show up for his fiancée, Paige Lorenze.
Tommy Paul Went to Support Paige Lorenze After Miami Loss
In Miami, Paul played a 3-set marathon against Fils without dropping his serve, and still came up short. Losing a match that way is a rare, agonizing way to pack your bags. Speaking on the “Love All” podcast alongside 4-time Grand Slam winner Kim Clijsters, tennis reporter Blair Henley revealed Paul didn’t sleep a wink that night.
How he processed the loss was by being front and center the very next day at Lorenze’s new DB SPORT activewear pop-up. He admitted to Henley that surrounding himself with loved ones helped him quickly flush the frustration and move forward.
“I’m always fascinated as somebody who, in general, in life is a terrible loser… I wanted to know, like, how did you get over that? And he said, ‘Well, I didn’t sleep at all that night.’ … And the next day, he went and supported his fiancée, Paige Lorenze, at one of her Dairy Boy pop-ups. I was like, that is that’s pretty amazing. He did say there might have been some alcohol involved the night after the loss, but he said, ‘You know, I was surrounded by people I love, and they helped me move on,’ Henley recounted.
Paul Bounces Back to Reach Houston Final
At the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston, Paul is tearing through the draw. On Saturday, he survived a chaotic semifinal against fellow American Frances Tiafoe, winning a heavy-hitting thriller 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7).
MORE: Tommy Paul’s Fiancée Paige Lorenze Cheers From Afar as He Reaches Houston Final
After a 90-minute rain delay disrupted the second set, the two traded massive blows in a wild decider. Paul thrived behind 14 aces and 0 double faults, closing the door in the deciding tiebreak to deny Tiafoe a fourth straight trip to the Houston final.
Now, Paul sets his sights on Sunday’s championship match against Argentina’s Roman Andres Burruchaga. Burruchaga coasted into the final by dispatching Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-1, 6-1, setting up a fascinating contrast in momentum.
For Paul, this is a massive milestone as it marks his first career ATP Tour final on clay. Paul is just the fifth active American man to reach tour-level finals on hard, grass, and clay courts, and a victory would make the record even sweeter.
