American tennis player Tommy Paul offered his views on the 2025 Roland Garros men’s final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, highlighting the intense rivalry that unfolded during the match. The five-hour battle between the two top contenders showcased extraordinary skill, with Alcaraz staging a comeback from two sets down to successfully defend his title.
The final earned widespread praise from the tennis community, including legends such as Rafael Nadal, known as the King of Clay, who admired the impressive performance from these rising stars. In a recent interview, Paul expressed his respect for both Alcaraz and Sinner, emphasizing how their current level challenges many players across the tour to raise their games. Commenting on the match, the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist stated (via Tennis.com):
“We all know what it was, amazing to watch and I mean I love both of these guys, love watching both of these guys. I mean they’re obviously leading the way in our sport right now. I hear a lot of people talk about, it just takes like putting together two weeks to win a slam. I think right now, there’s a lot of people need to pick up the level to keep up with these guys.”
—Tommy Paul, Tennis Player
Paul’s experience against these two players reflects his admiration. During the 2025 French Open quarterfinals, Paul was defeated in straight sets by Alcaraz, and earlier in May, he lost to Sinner in the semifinals of the Italian Open. Despite these setbacks, Paul has shown resilience by opening Wimbledon with a commanding first-round victory over Johannus Monday in straight sets (6-4, 6-4, 6-2), setting up a second-round encounter with Sebastian Ofner.
Tommy Paul’s Mindset Heading Into the 2025 Wimbledon Championships
Looking ahead to Wimbledon 2025, Tommy Paul shared insights into his preparation and mentality as he enters his second grass-court tournament this season. After a first-round loss at the Eastbourne Open against British player Dan Evans, Paul is eager to improve his performance on grass. The 28-year-old affirmed his competitive nature and determination to succeed, rejecting any notion of treating Wimbledon casually. He expressed (via ATP Tour):
“I want to win. I don’t like losing in any situation. I am a competitive guy. I want to win and I am not coming into the tournament like, ‘I’m going to play Wimbledon, if I lose it’s okay.’ I am going to give it my best, and I feel like I have prepared as well as I can in this situation.”
—Tommy Paul, Tennis Player
Paul’s focus extends beyond Wimbledon, as he plans to shift his attention towards preparing for the US Open, scheduled for August. Maintaining this intensity will be crucial as he seeks to contend against top players who continue to raise the bar in men’s tennis.
The rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner has emerged as a defining storyline in the current tennis season, pushing peers like Tommy Paul to elevate their skillsets. Paul’s commentary underscores a broader challenge facing many on the ATP Tour: keeping pace with these leading athletes demands constant improvement, which will shape the competitive landscape for upcoming tournaments.