In the 2022 season, we saw Tommy Paul add a level of consistency to his game that allowed him to compete with the best in the world. Undoubtedly, this past year was the 25-year-old American’s best on the ATP Tour. Paul came into the season ranked #43 in the world. While certainly nothing to scoff at, he was a step behind American tennis conversations that included his peers, Taylor Fritz, Reilly Opelka, and Frances Tiafoe. His play in 2022 has cemented him as one of the USA’s very best
Tommy Paul: 2022 in Review
I mentioned the term consistency when talking about Paul’s 2022 season. This consistency was shown on the micro and macro levels and helped lead him to a 38-27 overall record. Paul reached the quarterfinals in ten tournaments. He was knocked out in the first round six times. He was more likely to reach the quarterfinals (38.5% of the time) than get knocked out in the first round (23.1%). That is the mark of an emerging contender who handles his business against lower-ranked players.
Paul finished the season with a 16-3 record against players ranked outside the top 80, with those three losses coming against Richard Gasquet, Nick Kyrgios, and Dominic Thiem. This is not to say that the New Jersey native could not beat the world’s top players. In fact, he won all three matches he played against players then ranked in the top four this season.
- Paul d. #2 Nadal 3-6 7-6(4) 6-1 – Paris Masters
- Paul d. #3 Zverev 6-2 4-6 7-6(2) – Indian Wells Masters
- Paul d. #4 Alcaraz 6-7(4) 7-6(7) 6-3 Canada Masters
No moment ever seemed too big for Paul, who was often seen smiling and spinning his racquet between crucial points. Quarterfinal runs at the Canada and Paris Masters were undoubtedly the highlights of his on-court season. One of the more incredible moments of the season for Paul had to be getting an invite to the Laver Cup. Although he did not play in any matches, being a part of Team World for its first title and witnessing Roger Federer’s retirement had to have been a surreal experience.
What’s next for Tommy Paul?
The key for Paul going forward will be translating his consistency against lower-ranked players to high-level matches against the world’s best. The good thing for Paul is that he has proven he can beat virtually any player in the world. Having that confidence and self-belief is half the battle when playing such highly-ranked players.
It will be vital for him to get past the quarterfinal round and start working his way into playing Sunday tennis. Even with all of his success in 2022, holding a 1-9 record in quarterfinal matches while not reaching a single final all season can wear on a player. Look for Paul to be a factor in 250-level hard-court events in Adelaide, Dallas, and Delray Beach in the first few months of the season.
As for the Grand Slams, Paul will likely be seeded in Melbourne and should have the goal of being seeded at the other three Slams as well. This gives him more runway to pick up momentum before playing other seeded players. Call it a hunch, Paul has a good chance to make some second-week noise during at least one Slam this season. It’s all about consistency for Paul. If he continues to find success against lower-ranked players, he is bound to play himself deeper into tournaments. With his game in such good working order, expect the ascent for the 25-year-old to reach even greater heights during the 2023 season.
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