Tommy Paul is progressing steadily at the ongoing 2026 Miami Open, and he has reached the fourth round of the event with a three-set win over Raphael Collignon. Following the contest, the American touched on a range of topics, including the bond he shares with fellow countrymen Sebastian Korda, Taylor Fritz, and others.
Tommy Paul Discusses His Bond With Taylor Fritz, Sebastian Korda, and Fellow Americans After Miami Open Win
Paul, seeded 22nd at the Masters 1000 event in Miami, opened his campaign with a hard-fought three-set victory over France’s Adrian Mannarino in the second round. The American was once again pushed to the limit in the following round, needing a decider to overcome his Belgian opponent.
Paul raced through the opening set 6-2, appearing firmly on course for a routine win. However, Collignon mounted a strong response, matching that intensity to claim the second set 6-3. The decider turned into an intense battle, with both players holding firm to force a tiebreaker, where Paul held his nerve to seal it 7-6(5).
Paul edged the key numbers, striking 30 winners to Collignon’s 23 while committing fewer unforced errors (29 to 31), which ultimately tilted the match in his favor. Although Collignon fired more aces (8 to Paul’s 5), those gains were offset by 6 double faults, compared to Paul’s 2.
Beyond Paul’s progress, there was more reason for optimism for the home contingent, with fellow Americans Korda and Fritz also advancing to the fourth round. Korda delivered a standout result by toppling world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, while Fritz eased past compatriot Reilly Opelka 6-3, 6-3.
Following his third-round win, Paul sat down with Prakash Amritraj on Tennis Channel, where he was asked about the bond he shares with fellow Americans, including Korda and Fritz.
The world No. 23 explained that modern players have closer relationships than in the past, largely because social media keeps them connected. He added that American players, in particular, enjoy each other’s company, share lighthearted banter, and maintain a strong, friendly bond.
“I think we do as much as we can. I was just talking about the other day, how players now seem much closer across the board than maybe, you know, 20 years ago. But I think that’s like social media. We know what everyone’s up to. We know what everyone likes to do. We have stuff to talk about in the locker room, you know,” he said.
“I think it’s a great thing. I mean, I think it brings most of us closer together and especially Americans. We always like hanging out with each other. We got good banter amongst each other, so it’s fun,” he added.
Paul now turns his attention to his fourth-round clash against Tomás MartÃn Etcheverry in what will be their first meeting on tour. According to PFSN’s exclusive simulator, the American has a 63% chance of advancing to the quarterfinals.
