Tommy Paul has shed light on the evolving locker-room dynamics on the ATP tour, explaining how the atmosphere differs from that of previous generations. The American also opened up about his friendship with his fellow American stars as he continues his campaign at the Cincinnati Open.
What Tommy Paul Said About Sharing a Locker Room with Close Friends
Paul endured a difficult start to his North American hardcourt swing, kicking things off with a first-round exit at the Mubadala DC Open. He was then ousted from the Canadian Open in the third round, suffering a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Learner Tien.
The American has found better form at the Cincinnati Open, triumphing over Hubert Hurkacz and Adolfo Daniel Vallejo to reach the fourth round of the ATP Masters 1000 event.
Amid his campaign, Paul spoke to ATPTour.com and highlighted a shift in locker-room dynamics, explaining that the mood was vastly different from what it was in the 1990s. He expressed his belief that the players’ egos had evolved, with mutual respect and little desire to create unnecessary drama.
“I feel like the locker room nowadays, it’s not like it was in the ’90s. I feel like in the ’90s, there were a lot of people butting heads and — I don’t want to say bigger egos, but there were different egos,” Paul said.
“I feel like now, people know that we’re all traveling to the same tournaments together year round. Nobody really wants beef in the locker room. I think everyone respects each other and what we do,” he added.
Paul, who recently tied the knot with Paige Lorenze in the presence of players such as Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and Reilly Opelka, also shared insight into his bond with fellow American stars.
“I think, in our own way, we’re very fun to watch. I always find it interesting that we’re all such different people, but we’re all so close at the same time. All of us are very different, but we’ll all go out to dinner and have the best time. I enjoy hanging out with the American guys a ton — not because the Europeans or South Americans aren’t good guys — I just find it easy to get along with them,” he said.
The 29-year-old further addressed the camaraderie he shares with a tight-knit group of players and opened up about sharing the locker room with close friends like Fritz and Tiafoe.
“I would say I am decently chatty, but mostly with the same people every week,” Paul said. “Before warming up, I would be fairly chatty, that’s normal. And then after warming up, before I’m about to go play, I stick to myself a little bit more and talk a little less.”
“But I’ll play against one of my best friends sometimes, and we’re going to be in the locker room, so you’re going to be around them and you’re going to talk to them,” he added.
Like Tommy Paul, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe are also through to the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open. With a place in the quarterfinals at stake, Paul is set to battle Alexander Zverev, Fritz will face Christopher O’Connell, and Tiafoe will lock horns with Felix Auger-Aliassime.
