Tommy Paul states how he feels when watching Taylor Fritz win as they battle to be US number one
Tommy Paul continued his superb season as he clinched his third tour-level title of 2024 at the Stockholm Open.
Fourth seed Paul overcame third seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-3 in Sweden, having won his first ATP Tour title at the Stockholm Open in 2021.
It has been a superb journey for the American since then, with world number 12 Paul now on four titles in his career.
He did not drop a single set at the ATP 250 event this week, with the success helping him climb to 10th in the ATP Live Race To Turin.
A debut appearance in the season finale will now be his focus, with Paul able to close the gap on his competitors with another strong run at the Vienna Open.
Tommy Paul issues latest on US number one battle with Taylor Fritz
There is also the small matter of the American number one ranking at play, with Paul battling it out with Taylor Fritz for that honour.
But as confirmed in his Stockholm Open winning press conference, the former is more concerned with an overall improvement in American tennis.
“I think it at one point it was kind of close but right now Fritz has spread the gap a little bit,” said Paul. “He played amazing at the US Open and, of course, I want to be as highly ranked as I can but I have said it many times, I am not trying to be the number one ranked American at 11 in the world.
“We both want to be inside the top 10 or top five. If we are there and competing for number one then it’s great. But I don’t want to be 11th and him be 15th. That’s not we want for American tennis, we want to be at the top of the game.
“Every time he does well I am pumped for him. I watched all his matches at the Open and he was one of the first people to text me after his match today.
“Same with Foe (Frances Tiafoe). He text me last night and was excited for me to try and get the title today. We have a good relationship amongst us, we are all competitive, but it’s good.”
Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz flying the US tennis flag
It has been a superb season for American men’s tennis, with the nation’s players having endured tricky times in recent years.
Fritz reached the US Open final last month, losing out to Jannik Sinner, and now occupies sixth spot in the ATP Tour world rankings.
Tiafoe meanwhile reached the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows, having been knocked out by compatriot Fritz in New York.
Paul also lost to Sinner in the US Open round of 16, with the American able to hold his head high after a hard-fought battle with the world number one.
He now joins Fritz in the Race To Turin top-10 following his Stockholm Open success, with the latter currently flying high in fifth.
