Tommy Paul will head into this year’s US Open in spotty form, hoping that the final Grand Slam of the year can spark him back into action.
After all, a persisting issue has completely curtailed his preparation for his home major, forcing him into a foot cast after sustaining an injury at Wimbledon.
At the All-England Club, he was one of many seeds to suffer shock early exits, with his reasoning behind that defeat far more understandable.
However, when fit and at his very best, Paul is often a reliable and consistent star capable of troubling the very best on tour.
He will be hoping to do so in New York across the next few weeks, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner once again the stars to beat.
Ahead of the US Open, he has been trying to pinpoint the differences between them which make them so special.
Tommy Paul picks between Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner
Chatting with Flashscore in an exclusive interview, he was asked what exactly it is that makes the top two-ranked men in tennis right now.
There is simply not enough time to list all the reasons they are so far ahead of the chasing pack.
However, in the short space he had, Paul admitted that, through his own personal experience, one stands above the other.
The American revealed: “I feel like for me to judge the most difficult opponent, it has to be someone that I’ve played more than once. You want to say Novak, but I’ve only played him once.
“Obviously, Alcaraz is there, and Sinner is there. It’s no secret. Everyone knows they’re the two best right now, so it’s kind of an easy answer. But if I had to pick one, the level that Alcaraz played against me at the French Open this year, I hadn’t seen so I thought that was probably the highest level.”
As one of the top-ranked Americans, he will be keen to spearhead hopes of a hometown hero in New York. However, it seems like there is a friendly rivalry within the US contingent, with Frances Tiafoe revealing what his relationship with Paul is really like recently.
Tommy Paul reveals how he’s feeling after his injury
That was not all Paul had to say in this interview, as he went on to offer a rather promising fitness update following a summer scuppered by injury.
At the French Open, the 27-year-old suffered an abdominal issue which hampered his Wimbledon preparation, whilst his foot has ailed him ahead of the US Open.
It marks a frustrating part of his season, but it seems there is at least light at the end of the tunnel.
He revealed: “The foot is actually amazing. The foot’s never felt better. It’s literally the best it’s felt in five years. I’m pretty pumped about that.
“I wouldn’t say I’m in much pain. I would just say really trying to get the strength around the ankle and around the foot back is what we’re most focused on right now.”
