Tommy Paul battled through the Houston clay to capture his fifth career ATP Tour title on Sunday, but it was his fiancée’s post-match Instagram celebration that stole the show. Following his dramatic victory over Argentina’s Roman Andres Burruchaga, Paige Lorenze revived her 2024 viral “Clawgate” controversy to expertly troll her internet critics.
Tommy Paul Wins in Houston as Lorenze Resurfaces ‘Clawgate’ Online
Paul had to dig exceptionally deep to secure his first clay-court trophy, edging the unseeded Burruchaga 6-1, 3-6, 7-5. The 28-year-old stared down three championship points while serving at 3-5 in the deciding set. He casually swatted the danger away, rattling off the final four games of the match to complete the comeback.
Shortly after lifting the trophy, Paul texted Lorenze a locker room photo of a friend aggressively grabbing the back of his neck. The text simply read, “Dont worry Paigey, I got you.” Lorenze quickly tossed the screenshot onto her Instagram story, captioned “clawgate is forever.”
The post spoofs the 2024 Queen’s Club Championships in London. Lorenze caught a wave of heat after photos surfaced of her firmly gripping Paul’s neck during his grass-court trophy presentation. A few even criticized her for being possessive, given the “claw.”
Lorenze, who runs the brand Dairy Boy, immediately neutralized the drama by adopting the phrase “Live laugh love claw” on her YouTube channel. It seems the couple is more than happy to keep the joke rolling from across the globe.
Houston also caps a physically brutal weekend for the American. Just a day earlier, Paul had won a two-hour, 45-minute, rain-delayed semifinal marathon against Frances Tiafoe. He fired 14 aces, committed zero double faults, and converted his fourth match point in a deciding tiebreaker to advance.
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The Sunday triumph extends a highly localized streak, making Paul the fifth consecutive American to win the Houston event. He also becomes the tournament’s oldest champion since 32-year-old Juan Monaco won in 2016. More notably, Paul joins Tiafoe as the only active American men holding tour-level titles on hard, grass, and clay courts.
Paul’s resume now features five career singles titles, an active world ranking of No. 21, and over $13.6 million in total career prize money. He boasts a 14-3 record on clay over his last 52 weeks, yielding an 82% win rate on the surface.
Next up, it’s the European clay swing. Paul will bypass this week’s Monte-Carlo Masters, opting to rest before officially launching his European schedule at the Mutua Madrid Open. He enters Spain ranked world No. 21, with the Italian Open and Roland Garros immediately following.
