American tennis player Tommy Paul revealed a surprising and humorous personal experience during the 2025 French Open after winning his opening match on May 25. While competing in Paris, Paul shared that his Ford F-150 truck had been repossessed earlier that month due to missed payments, an incident he first mistook for a theft. The 28-year-old player, currently ranked 12th in the world, described how the repossession unfolded and how the timing of the event, midway through his clay-court season in Europe, added an unusual twist to his busy schedule.
Paul fought back from losing the first set in a tiebreaker to defeat Denmark’s Elmer Moller in four sets, securing his place in the tournament’s second round. During the post-match press conference, he opened up about the repossession: “I’m like, ‘What the hell is going on? There’s a tow truck coming and taking my car!’ I thought it was stolen at first,” Paul said. He admitted to having missed three payments on the truck, which led to the lender taking swift action, surprising him with how quickly the vehicle was recovered—even late at night. “I didn’t know how quick they would come and grab it—like in the middle of the night,” he added.
This unusual experience prompted Paul to follow “repo” television shows depicting similar vehicle repossessions, finding humor in the situation despite its seriousness. “Now I’m watching all these ‘repo’ shows, where they come in and swoop trucks at 1 in the morning. It’s definitely a funny experience. To be in Europe while it happened is even crazier. But we did get it back,” he explained. His lighthearted recounting of the event offered fans an unexpected glimpse at his off-court life, contrasting with the intense focus required for competing at a Grand Slam.
Paul’s truck troubles came at a pivotal time as he seeks to build momentum at Roland Garros, a major tournament where he has yet to advance beyond the third round in six attempts. Known for his clay-court aptitude — having reached the semifinals of the Italian Open in both 2023 and 2024 — Paul aims to break new ground this year. After a strong start to the Grand Slam season with a quarterfinal finish at the Australian Open, the American will face Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in the next round, hoping to reach the second week of the French Open for the first time in his career.
The dual challenge of competing at the world’s top level while navigating unexpected personal setbacks highlights the pressures professional athletes often face. Tommy Paul’s experience serves as a reminder that behind every victory, there are real-life struggles and moments of resilience. As he continues his run at Roland Garros, fans will watch to see if he can stay focused amid distractions and perhaps, finally surpass his previous best results on Paris’s demanding clay courts.