Roland-Garros: Paul is the first US male player in quarter-finals since Agassi in 2003

Tommy Paul defeated Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday and will play either Ben Shelton or Carlos Alcaraz, the second seed, in the next round

Tommy Paul, Roland-Garros 2025 | © Gepa / PsNewz

Tennis Majors

June 1, 2025

Roland Garros •Round of 16 • Completed

See draw

A. PopyrinvsT. Paul

Tommy Paul became the first American man to reach the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros since Andre Agassi in 2003, after his victory on Sunday. He is also the first player to qualify for the men’s final eight at this year’s tournament.

Despite having spent a lot of energy during the first week — dropping five sets on his way to the fourth round — the No 12 seed cruised past his opponent, Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, who had not dropped a single set in his previous three matches. He beat the Aussie 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

In earlier rounds at Roland-Garros 2025, Paul defeated Danish lucky loser Elmer Moller (6-7 [5], 6-2, 6-3, 6-1), Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics (4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4), and 24th seed Karen Khachanov of Russia (6-3, 3-6, 7-6 [7], 3-6, 6-3). Paul reacted : “I mean, as much as I love the five-setters, I definitely like the three-setters a little bit better. It gives the body a rest.”

Paul also becomes the ninth American in the Open Era to reach the quarter-finals at Grand Slam tournaments on three different surfaces, joining Andre Agassi, Michael Chang, Jimmy Connors, Jim Courier, Vitas Gerulaitis, Brian Gottfried, John McEnroe, and Pete Sampras. He was a semi-finalist at the 2023 Australian Open and a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 2024.

He also reached the quarter-finals at this year’s Australian Open and is coming off a semi-final showing at the Rome Masters 1000 — a testament to his growing consistency, which brings him closer to the ATP Top 10.

In this clash of two former junior champions (Paul in 2015, Popyrin in 2017), the Australian struggled with his serve — a key weapon in his game — and couldn’t apply any real pressure on Paul. With only 58% first-serve success and just 37% won on second serve, Popyrin was under siege from the first point to the last.

27 winners for Paul

Paul hit 27 winners, while Popyrin committed 37 unforced errors. The conversion rate on break points also tells the story: Popyrin saved only one of six break points he faced and converted just one of his ten opportunities.

“There were a lot of times where I was down Love-40 or 15-40 on my serve, Paul told the reporters. “Those are games that can change the match easily, some of those for him to go up a break, some of those for him to get back on serve with me.”

“I ended up winning those points and holding serve in those games, and that really can change a match. So it could have easily been a battle again, but luckily, I mean, I clutched up on those points.”

Currently ranked No. 12 in the world, Paul will face the winner of the fourth-round clash between fellow American Ben Shelton (No 13 seed) and Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz.

As for Popyrin, ranked 25th in the world, he misses the chance to play in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal, despite having given the impression that he had reached a new level this week. He had beaten Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka (7-5, 6-4, 1-2 ret.), Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo (7-5, 6-3, 6-4), and Portugal’s Nuno Borges (6-4, 7-6 [11], 7-6 [5]). He is expected to remain just outside the ATP Top 20 after Roland-Garros.