'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAUACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABkAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQcQAAICAQMFAQAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQABgchBRITFyJBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGBxEAAgICAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQMCEQASBCETIlH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AJGltp9M6k2Wo2LieO2ty5MbdeNI53IiMqK7kN3KoBXM79SdKj+BfskLxyF/MYymPUvztIjrbJdR9R0fgwBHlPDJx2sCqsA5/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Karolina Pliskova's former coach Rennae Stubbs and Racquet co-founder Caitlin Thompson discussed Tommy Paul's apparent lack of popularity on their podcast, 'The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.'
Paul became the first American player since Andy Roddick in 2009 to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open. The 25-year-old ousted compatriot Ben Shelton on his way to facing Novak Djokovic in the last four. Despite his loss to Djokovic, the American rose to World No. 19 in the ATP rankings.
Paul recently competed at the Davis Cup Qualifiers, where Team USA came out on top against Uzbekistan. The American team completed a clean sweep against their opponents and booked their spot in the group stage of the Davis Cup Finals.
Praising Paul's performance in the tie, Thompson said:
"I love that Tommy Paul was sort of the hero of the show."
Thompson said she wanted to see Paul make another deep run at a Grand Slam. She observed how he flew under the radar despite being the American player who made it furthest at the Melbourne Major.
"He's kind of like the sleepy American no one pays attention to," she added.
Thompson mentioned how Tommy Paul was an "athletic freak." In her conversation with tennis coach Marc Lucero, she learned that Paul's huge lung capacity and high vertical jump set him apart in terms of athletic capability.
When asked why Paul tends to fly under the radar, Stubbs said that it was because his style of play isn't very flashy or entertaining.
"There's nothing exciting about Tommy," according to Stubbs
Stubbs explained that people tend to gravitate towards flashy players who are more exciting to watch. She compared Paul's style of play to that of Carlos Alcaraz, who is flamboyant and thus more fun to watch.
Stubbs added that Paul is a great competitor and a smart player and that she was glad that he made it through to the semifinals.
"That was a huge run for him," Stubbs said.
Rennae Stubbs recalls hilarious moment between Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton at the Australian Open
With on-court coaching being allowed at the Australian Open, it led to a hilarious moment between Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul during their quarterfinal encounter.
Stubbs recalled a moment in the tense fourth set when Paul asked his coach, Brad Stine, for advice on where to expect Shelton's serve. Apparently, Shelton overheard Stine's advice and placed his serve in the opposite spot. Paul looked up to see Shelton laughing at the situation.
"He looked at Ben and Ben's laughing," Stubbs mentioned.
Paul will be back on the court at the Delray Beach Open held in Florida, scheduled to begin on February 13.
