“I don’t like to feel like I’ve had too many huge difficulties in my life. I play tennis for my job and for a living, and I think life’s been pretty good,” a rejuvenated Tommy Paul recently shared, reflecting on his grounded outlook and calm off-court demeanor. On court, though, he’s been electric, storming through the ongoing Italian Open by toppling Roberto Bautista Agut, edging past Tomáš Macháč in a grueling three-setter, defeating long-time rival Alex de Minaur, and outplaying Hubert Hurkacz in the QF. But off the court? Things took a surprising turn! Despite his calm, controlled persona, Paul revealed he once lost his most prized possession. Wondering what it was? Let’s just say it stung!
Tommy Paul continued his remarkable run at the Italian Open on Thursday, reaching the SF once again and etching his name into American tennis history. The 27-year-old became the 1st American to reach back-to-back SF in Rome since Pete Sampras achieved the feat in 1993 and 1994. Paul earned the milestone by overcoming the powerful Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(4), 6-3 in a match that lasted just under two hours.
In a tense and unpredictable 1st set filled with six service breaks, Paul maintained composure to clinch it in a tie-break. From there, he found his rhythm and cruised through the second set with aggressive baseline play and sharp decision-making. The win not only marked another highlight in his impressive clay-court season but also carried a unique off-court reward.
Moments after the match, Paul revealed a surprising twist from his personal life. “On court, everything has been going pretty well,” he shared. “Off court, a little bit of a stressful week. I got my truck repossessed. I missed a couple of payments and they took my truck from my house this week. I’ve been grinding to get my truck back. If you know me, that’s my baby.”
Tommy Paul in press on his week off court after reaching the Rome semis again.
“ It’s been a stressful week. I got my truck repossessed. I missed a couple of payments and they took my truck from my house. If you know me that’s my baby. I got my trainer to go pick it up today…
— The First Serve (@TheFirstServeAU) May 15, 2025
The vehicle in question? His beloved “Ford F-150 truck”, which was recently repossessed from his home in Boca Raton, Florida. Fortunately for the American, his deep run in Rome has not only lifted his spirits but also filled his wallet.
The American revealed that he had already paid the $1,000 recovery fee to reclaim his prized possession. “I already paid it back. A grand. I have my trainer going to pick it up today. Ford took it back. I’m excited to get it back. I had to win a couple matches so I could pay that off.”
With career prize money exceeding $10 million, Paul has now added €291,040 (approximately $325,200 USD) to his earnings just by reaching the SF. He humorously confirmed that one of his trainers was en route to retrieve the truck, signaling a triumphant resolution to an otherwise stressful situation.
Taking to IG, Paul even posted a video of the repossession, set to the emotional tune of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” The footage showed a tow truck arriving, securing the F-150 in a matter of moments, and driving off, a light-hearted nod to the chaos behind the scenes.
Now, as Paul prepares to face top-seeded Jannik Sinner in the SF showdown, he not only has his truck back but also a shot at winning the title. With €523,870 (roughly $585,300 USD) awaiting the finalist, he might consider setting up autopay, just in case any more tow trucks are lurking nearby!
And while he’s been reunited with his prized possession, his beloved “baby”, Tommy Paul has also shared his thoughts on facing Jannik Sinner in the Italian Open SF.
“He hasn’t been away for any time,” Tommy Paul gets candid on opponent’s form
Tommy Paul, currently ranked No. 12 in the “ATP Live Rankings”, is on the brink of re-entering the Top 10 as he just needs one more win to reach the championship match. Standing in his way is top seed Jannik Sinner, who lit up Campo Centrale with a ruthless display against Casper Ruud, defeating the Madrid champion 6-0, 6-1 in just 64 minutes. It marked a stunning QF performance as Sinner dominated from the outset, winning 16 of the first 18 points and showcasing his trademark power and precision on both wings.
Now set to face the Italian in Saturday’s SF, Paul acknowledged the immense challenge ahead. Reflecting on Sinner’s remarkable return from the ban, the American praised his rival, saying it hardly looks like he’s missed any time on court.
“It’s as if he hasn’t been away for any time. Certainly, he doesn’t seem rusty at all,” Paul admitted. “Already in his first match, he showed a good level and it seems like he keeps improving. His great virtue is not only hitting the ball harder and more consistently than others, but he is capable of generating a lot of power out of nowhere. He is the best hitter on the circuit, and there is no doubt he deserves to be the world number 1.” Paul, who trails 1-3 in their H2H, knows he’ll need to dig deep to shift that balance.
With his Ford F-150 back home and confidence surging after a strong run in Rome, the American ace might ride that wave of motivation into the biggest match of his season. However, Sinner, spurred by the energy of the home crowd and carrying blistering form, will look to ensure a smooth path into the final. Will it be the American’s breakthrough or the Italian’s continued dominance? Saturday will tell!
The post “That’s My Baby”- Off-Court Turmoil Leaves Tommy Paul Reeling as He Loses His Most Prized Possession appeared first on EssentiallySports.
