Tommy Paul is angling for 'the Big One' at Roland Garros

The No. 1 Read is TENNIS.com's lead story for the day—look for more of them throughout Roland Garros.

Brad (Stine) has been the most important piece in my game. I could talk about a million different things, but every year we have, like, one kind of thing that we really focus on—I mean, along with a million others. For me to be where I'm at today, he was the one who really pushed me to get there. Tommy Paul on the role of his coach, following his third-round win

There are numerous reasons for why Tommy Paul is in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, beginning with his natural talent and athleticism and ending with his native intelligence. But it was Stine’s ability to motivate Paul, to guide the 28-year-old New Jersey native’s career for almost five years now, that is noteworthy in this era of celebrity coaches—and players—who partake in an endless game of musical chairs and keep the hype machines running.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Paul’s unexpected triumph in the Roland Garros juniors, an event that was even more improbable because his opponent in the final was another youngster from the historically clay-averse U.S., Taylor Fritz. This was an occasion to celebrate—once you’re a Grand Slam champion, you remain one forever—but it is also a portent. The message is that Paul is shifting to the second half of his career. There is still work to be done, and Paul and Stine are aware of it.

Speaking for himself as well as the current generation of U.S. players, Paul is unflinchingly honest:

“I think we haven't closed the gap obviously because none of us have won a Slam," he says. "There's still a lot of really good Europeans ranked ahead of us. I wouldn't say the gap has closed. [But] I think over the past six years or so, we've definitely made it smaller.”

Credit Paul for his role in narrowing that once yawning gap. For the first time in 30 years, three American men reached the fourth round of the French Open, with Paul leading the charge.

Paul's education began shortly after he won that junior Slam and set forth on the pro tour, albeit lacking maturity and elite-level physicality. He underestimated the strength, discipline and focus required for professional success and paid the price, falling behind peers like Fritz, Frances Tiafoe and Reilly Opelka.

All that has changed. As his compatriot Ben Shelton said last week at Roland Garros, “His results on clay [suggest] that clay be his best surface. He’s a dog, and a contender here.”

The turning point occurred when Paul engaged Stine as his coach early in the year 2020. Over time, Stine helped Paul develop good working habits, along with a nuanced understanding of how to apply the skills that Paul relies on to offset his lack of a big weapon or an imposing frame. Those tools include foot speed, quick hands, a deep tool box of shots, and an alertness to his mental and emotional ebbs and flows—as well as those of his opponent.

Read more: Can Tommy Paul break the curse for U.S. men at Roland Garros?

He’s a dog, and a contender here. Ben Shelton on Tommy Paul

Rationalizing his recent proficiency in five-set matches (he won successive ones in the second and third rounds), Paul told reporters: “Your mind drives everything. When your mind goes, sometimes your body can go too. That's the most important thing: to stay locked in. Tell yourself to keep going, whatever, you know, tricks some people have to keep themselves moving forward and in a positive mindset.”

The mind may be the driver, but the vehicle is the body. Paul has reaped the rewards of ramped-up fitness, increased strength and stamina. They are all components in Stine’s influence, as well as elements that allow Paul to thrive as a creative stylist. Paul has become the guy who earns props for his work ethic as well as his skills.

Paul survived back-to-back, grueling, five-set matches last week. But that didn’t exactly leave Alexei Popyrin, his next opponent, licking his chops.

“I think Tommy is one of the fittest guys on tour,” said his opponent, Alexei Popyrin. “The work he puts in the gym, the work he puts in off the court, I think he's only going to come out [against me] and play normal.”

A fellow Roland Garros junior singles champ, Popyrin added: "He also is a player who plays with a lot of variety, likes to come in, serve and volleys. I’m not quite sure if he's a grinder or an aggressive player, but he's kind of a good mold between the two.”

The confusion sown by this grinder-attacker identity helps explain how Paul was able to beat Popyrin without losing more than three games in any set. Paul is undoubtedly crafty, which is an ability that must also come in handy when he is on his boat in Florida, pursuing elusive gamefish.

Paul is a passionate angler. With No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz up next, in the quarterfinals, you might say that Paul still has bigger fish to fry.