AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 27, 2023

Tommy Paul

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/T. Paul

7-5, 6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Tommy, this was your first meeting with Novak probably on his favorite court. What made him so tough out there tonight?

TOMMY PAUL: I mean, I think he returned really well. From the start of the match, I had a couple looks in the first game, then felt like the match started going really, really fast 'cause he was returning really well. His depth was great. He didn't really let me execute any of the game plan that I had kind of laid out for myself.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. It's probably one of the toughest things in sports: playing Rafa at Roland Garros, playing Novak here. What does it feel like to be out there and to experience that, and to walk onto the court knowing what you're facing?

TOMMY PAUL: I mean, walking on the court was cool. Playing the match and getting beaten like that kind of sucked.

But, I mean, it's great I got to see the level of where I want to be and know how good I have to play if I want to beat people like that. It was I think a good experience.

Like, he didn't really let me execute any game plan that I wanted to do.

Q. We're probably asking you similar types of questions. You spoke the other day about you really wanted this matchup. Can you talk to us about the esteem, the awe, the people in the locker room have that look up to Novak?

TOMMY PAUL: Sorry, can you repeat the question?

Q. The way that players look at Novak, the opportunity, the way he's held up in the locker room, how big of a challenge he's seen as and the respect for him.

TOMMY PAUL: Yeah, I mean, I think a lot of players have a lot of respect for his game. He's definitely an unbelievable player, especially here in Australia. I mean, in the locker room, I think no one really wants to see him on their part of the draw.

But, I mean, in the semis of a slam, like, you're not going to get a bad player. So to play him here, I mean, it was a cool experience. I knew he was going to play really, really well. Obviously I wish I played a lot better today.

I mean, he made me play bad, so... He's a great player.

Q. Would you be willing to share any bit of what that game plan was that you mentioned?

TOMMY PAUL: Yeah, I mean, I wanted to serve and volley some. I didn't serve and volley once. It's hard when my first-serve percentage was pretty well. When I did make my first serve, I felt like he was returning it to the baseline. I was automatically on defense.

Like, you get down Love-30 in your service games, it's hard to be like, All right, I'm going to serve and volley now.

Wanted to throw in dropshots. Didn't get an opportunity to do any of that because he was hitting so deep. Wanted to change up pace with my slice. Missed my first three slices of the match. I was like, All right, I'm going to start hitting my backhand, I'm not slicing well today.

I mean, he didn't let me do all those things because of things that he did so well.

Q. We keep talking about Novak. Can we reflect on how big this fortnight was for you, how proud of yourself I guess you are.

TOMMY PAUL: Yeah, definitely, I mean, I'm stoked to have made semis here. Obviously I wish I gave the people at the arena today a better match. I think the people were excited to see a little bit closer match. Every time we had some good points, the crowd was ready to get loud, have fun. I mean, I really wish I gave them a better match.

But yeah, I mean, great, great two weeks for me. Obviously got to carry it throughout the whole season. It's about consistency, you know? I don't want to be a one-hit wonder.

Q. When you did make that run in the first set, you got back to 5-All, what was your mindset? Did you feel like you were starting over, you were even, you were into it?

TOMMY PAUL: Yeah, kind of. It was weird, like, when the match started, it felt like things were getting away from me really fast, felt like points were moving really fast, time in between point time was going really quick.

He gave me a couple looks. I extended a couple points. I feel like he got a little irritated with something. The crowd started getting a little rowdy. Started getting really fun.

I got it to 5-All. I don't really remember what happened there. I just remember, like, after that I think I lost six games in a row or something, seven games in a row.

Obviously should have done something different, or he stepped up and played great tennis.

Q. Was there anything that surprised you about his game? You've probably seen him playing a hundred times.

TOMMY PAUL: I would say probably second serve was better than I thought it was, than I thought it was going to be. Part of the other game plan was to attack on the second serve. He definitely surprised me. On big points he was going big seconds. Pretty much every point, like, the average second serve speed was a little higher than I thought it was going to be.

Q. What would be the goal for you now for the rest of the year now that you've made a Grand Slam semifinal, a breakthrough at Wimbledon last year? What do you think you're capable of doing now that you'll be in the top 20?

TOMMY PAUL: I don't know. I want to keep moving up the rankings, you know? It would be nice to end the year top 10. I feel like the way I started year is the right path to do it.

Obviously I have a lot of matches to win this year. Hopefully get some titles, too. I don't want to just lose in semifinals. I want to have my name on some trophies next year.