As Tommy Paul enters the 2025 US Open, he does so as one of the top tennis players in America.
The 28-year-old is currently ranked 14th among all singles stars in the ATP rankings, reaching a career-high of eighth in June. As he approaches the final grand slam event of the tennis tour this calendar year, he will aim to advance to the quarters in the US Open for the first time in his career.
He outlines that as his bare minimum objective, having advanced to the last eight in two of the three grand slam tournaments earlier this year.
Paul says he's still doing a lot of recovery from Wimbledon, where he dealt with foot and hip injuries.
"This year has been a little different than most," says Paul in a one-on-one interview with Flashscore. "I've been dealing with a little bit of injury in my foot at Wimbledon, so kind of had a little bit of recovery to do for that, so I sat out of a couple tournaments in the States.
"It breaks my heart, because I love nothing more than playing tennis in the States, in front of US fans. It's a lot of the reason that I play. I absolutely love it, so to miss it, it really sucked."
The New Jersey native and Boca Raton, Florida resident says he'll have "good fuel" entering the US Open. He will focus on singles play after dropping out of a mixed doubles team with Jessica Pegula.
"It's good fuel for me," says Paul. "I think we've been working really hard getting in shape for the Open, still a lot of recovery to do with my foot and my hips. We've been working hard on recovery, and working hard on getting everything in my game sharp.
"Every day, they can be a little repetitive. Every day is two hours of tennis, lunch, fitness, protein shake, and then we'll get treatment on the table. Some days, ice bath, massage, just really getting ready."
Paul downplays the injuries and says his foot feels "amazing" right now. It's about getting mobility back in time for the US Open.
"The foot is actually amazing," says Paul. "The foot's never felt better. It's literally the best it's felt in five years. I'm pretty pumped about that.
"I went into a boot for a couple weeks after Wimbledon. When you go into a boot, your ankle kind of gets very tight because of the mobility, it's not mobile at all. It's just really getting the mobility back and everything.
"I wouldn't say I'm in much pain. I would just say really trying to get the strength around the ankle and around the foot back is what we're most focused on right now."
Entering the tournament, Paul is one of the top players, but he won't be one of the favourites. That title belongs to Jannik Sinner, who is ranked No. 1 overall right now, with Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic right after.
Paul considers Alcaraz to be his toughest opponent ever and the best tennis player right now. The 6-foot-1 tennis star says that Alcaraz's "top level" is the best.
"I feel like for me to judge the most difficult opponent, it has to be someone that I've played more than once," says Paul. "You want to say Novak, but I've only played him once.
"Obviously, Alcaraz is there, and Sinner is there. It's no secret. Everyone knows they're the two best right now, so it's kind of an easy answer. But if I had to pick one, the level that Alcaraz played against me at the French Open this year, I hadn't seen so I thought that was probably the highest level."
There are no real breaks in tennis with events and tournaments all year round. Not long after the US Open ends in September, Paul will travel back to Florida (where he resides) to play in the Davis Cup while representing the United States alongside good friend Taylor Fritz.
Paul says the key to staying mentally and physically sharp throughout an entire season is "just loving it."
"I think the secret is just loving it," says Paul. "Obviously the season's very long. You go through different challenges throughout the year, and maybe don't love some of the challenges. But you have to embrace most of them. Most of the challenges that I face - as long as it's not injury - I pretty much love every part of it, besides the travel."
While Paul hates travelling for tennis tournaments, he loves the whole grind and routine of being a tennis player.
"Hate to travel, but I like competing, getting in the gym, practising on court, playing matches, playing on centre courts, I love that stuff," says Paul. "I feel like that's what I was born to do. It doesn't feel like a job for me mentally.
"Maybe getting on another flight when you don't want to play another tournament is mentally draining, but once you get there, and you get on the practice court, and you have the anxiety of seeing who you're going to play in the draw, or who you play tomorrow, you feel those feelings in your stomach. You don't get that anywhere else. I don't take that for granted."
When asked where he can improve the most in his tennis game, Paul gives two answers - his serve and his execution.
"I still think I need a lot of work on my serve," says Paul. "My serve can improve a lot. I think I'm making a lot of the right decisions on the court, but I think my execution isn't great right now, especially in the past month or so. I feel like I haven't had much time to really sharpen those tools on the court."
Paul says those are the key things he's working on as he aims for his best finish - and potentially winning - the 2025 US Open.
"That's a lot of what I'm working on leading into the Open," says Paul. "Playing, attacking tennis, volleying while volleying smart. Because you can hit a good volley, but get in the wrong place. It doesn't matter. You're going to lose the point. Everyone can pass so well, everyone can play so well. I'd say serve and first volleys are huge for me."