Tommy Paul has been playing the right kind of tennis at the Grand Slams this year. He is one of the five Americans left in the men’s draw at the US Open. Even after playing for over two hours in the third round, Paul still found time for his fans after the match. He spent time signing autographs and even went to have special moments with the audience.
While signing the autographs, Paul saw boys lining up with unusual requests. The player laughed while agreeing with their bizarre wishes. One of the boys asked him for an autograph on his forehead, which Pual happily obliged to do. “He’s Going to Bed Like That”, commented one fan after the video went viral. The audience was surprised by Paul as he did not hesitate to join the fun with his young fans.
He’s going to bed like that 🤣
— Omamuzo (@MamZees) September 1, 2023
The next fan went one step further as he held toilet paper in his hand when Paul took it without any judgment and went on to sign it. One fan wrote, “Yes! What a guy! Love that he gives the fans what they want.” Paul maybe felt what Stefanos Tsitsipas had said a few days ago about being able to understand the young fans.
Yes! What a guy! Love that he gives the fans what they want
— mschweizer (@mschweizer4) September 2, 2023
The world No.14 defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in four sets; the first two sets only took 51 minutes. Paul was looking to close the match in under two hours, but the Spaniard denied the chance. Fokina came back by taking the third set. He could not hold the momentum for long as he lost the grip of the match in the next set. Paul is now set for a clash with his close friend in the next match.
Tommy Paul books heavyweight clash at the US Open
Paul has entered the fourth round at the US Open for the first time. He will face fellow countryman Ben Shelton for a place in the quarterfinals. The 14th seed had beaten Shelton in their first meeting at the quarterfinals of the Australian Open this year. Paul has reached the fourth round in three majors but has yet to reach the third round in the French Open.
The 26-year-old has played 11 matches against fellow Americans this season. He has only lost two matches in those 11, one against John Isner and the other against Brandon Nakashima. Paul looks to be the favorite in his upcoming clash in the fourth round. Shelton has won two matches in a row for the first in eight months. In the third match, he served an ace, clocked at 147 miles per hour, the fastest at the event this season.
An All-American clash awaits in Round 4! pic.twitter.com/Z1VktPWzC7
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2023
The 20-year-old’s serve, added with his mammoth forehand, puts forth an uphill task for Paul. Shelton has come back on form, but his consistency has not been a point this season. Meanwhile, Paul has been consistent this year and has hit at least 40 winners in each match at the US Open. Fans can expect winners overflowing on the court; they must wait long for an autograph in the fourth-round clash.