Quiet and clinical: Tommy Paul’s under-the-radar surge in Melbourne
Tommy Paul is quietly putting together one of the cleanest opening-round runs of the 2026 Australian Open. By dismantling Thiago Agustín Tirante 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Wednesday, the world No. 20 secured his second consecutive straight-sets victory, signaling a return to the physical freedom and serving dominance that fueled his historic 2023 semi-final run. Tommy … Continued
Tommy Paul, Adelaide 2026 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Tommy Paul is quietly putting together one of the cleanest opening-round runs of the 2026 Australian Open. By dismantling Thiago Agustín Tirante 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Wednesday, the world No. 20 secured his second consecutive straight-sets victory, signaling a return to the physical freedom and serving dominance that fueled his historic 2023 semi-final run.
Tommy Paul is currently operating in a state of high-efficiency “stealth mode.” After enduring a 2025 season marked by a persistent “hobble” and physical compromise, the American has moved through the first two rounds of 2026 with a startling lack of friction.
His victory over Tirante was a masterclass in from-the-ground tennis, where Paul was able to “aggressively dig in and out of the corners” without a second thought for the injuries that haunted his previous summer. “It’s been a while,” Paul admitted. “It’s been basically since Madrid where I walked onto the court not really too worried about anything. It’s a good feeling.”
Tommy Paul “as close to 100% as I could be”
The key to this “discrete journey” has been a revamped serving performance that Paul says has fundamentally changed his tactical math. By holding serve with ease, the 19th seed has removed the stress from his baseline exchanges, allowing him to transition from defense to offense with the fluidity that defines his best hard-court tennis.
“It takes a lot of pressure off you when you’re holding easier,” he noted. “You feel like your serve can dig you out of a hole.” This renewed confidence, carried over from a semi-final run in Adelaide last week (loss against Machac), makes Paul, a Melbourne semifinalist in 2023, a uniquely dangerous “quiet” threat in a draw where everyone is hunting for the big names.
As the tournament moves toward the high-stakes third round, Paul remains unbothered by his lack of a “target on his back.” Whether he faces long-time rival Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or fellow American Reilly Opelka, he is entering the weekend at “as close to 100% as I could be.”
