The journey of American tennis star Tommy Paul to the top echelons of the sport has been a slow burn that has recently ignited into a blazing spectacle. This once junior standout, who took nearly four years to crack the top 100 after reaching two Grand Slam boys’ singles finals in 2015, has now firmly planted his flag in the top 10. His meteoric rise was propelled by a significant quarterfinal performance at the Australian Open against Alexander Zverev, which has sent his popularity soaring.
However, a humorous twist emerged at the Indian Wells Masters involving Paul, who is currently ranked 11th, and his girlfriend Lorenze Paige, an influential American entrepreneur who he started dating in 2022. While it might be common for Paige to be recognized as ‘Paul’s girlfriend’, the roles amusingly reversed at the tournament.
During a grueling match with Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev on Wednesday, March 12, a fan’s comment flipped the perspective. Apparently struggling to remember Paul’s name, the fan humorously referred to him as “Paige’s boyfriend”. This elicited a heartwarming response from Paige, who reacted to the post with a cascade of laughter and love emojis.
Sadly, Paul’s efforts were not enough to overcome the Russian powerhouse, who repeated last year’s result, advancing in straight sets. Despite the loss, Medvedev acknowledged the stiff competition provided by Paul, recounting their previous encounters in his post-match interview. The American’s tenacity and resilience have not gone unnoticed, with fellow players Taylor Fritz, Emma Navarro, and Ben Shelton choosing him as their survival partner in a hypothetical desert scenario during a recent Tennis Paradise questionnaire.
Outside the court, Paul’s relationship with Paige is making waves of its own. The influencer, also a competitive skier, runs her lifestyle brand Dairy Boy which recently collaborated with Indian Wells. Their relationship is one of several high-profile partnerships involving tennis stars and influencers, including Taylor Fritz’s relationship with Morgan Riddle and Nick Kyrgios’ romantic involvement with Costeen Hatzi.
In light of the increasing number of wives and girlfriends (WAGs) supporting their partners on tour, Paige spoke to Forbes about the evolving role of WAGs. She lauded the evolution, emphasizing that they are more than just “women on the sidelines”, but are ambitious, hardworking, and deeply supportive individuals. She also highlighted the sacrifices and challenges of being a tennis WAG and expressed hope for further evolution in 2025.
Following his exit from the Masters 1000 event, Paul is likely to take a break to recuperate and prepare for the clay court season leading up to the French Open in May. Amid the highs and lows of the sport, the light-hearted moments and the support from loved ones like Paige add a unique flavor to the journey of this emerging American ATP icon.