(Watch)Tommy Paul Breaks 22-Year American Drought at French Open

Straight-sets win over Popyrin sends Paul to his first Roland Garros quarter-final

Tommy Paul made history at the 2025 French Open, becoming the first American man in 22 years to reach the quarter-finals at Roland Garros. The 27-year-old defeated Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in a confident and clinical display that underlined his growing stature on the global stage.

Key Points:

Paul is the first American male player to reach the French Open quarter-finals since Andre Agassi in 2003.

The win came in just under two hours, a sharp contrast to Paul’s earlier rounds, which included two five-set battles.

Paul now joins an elite group of active American men to have reached the quarter-finals or beyond at all three Grand Slam surfaces — hard, grass, and clay.

Against Popyrin, Paul used his speed, aggressive returning, and superior court coverage to dominate every set.

He will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the next round — a major test, but one Paul says he’s prepared for.

Paul’s deep run is the most significant by an American man in Paris in two decades, signalling a potential resurgence for U.S. men’s tennis on clay.

With this win, Tommy Paul not only advances to his first Roland Garros quarter-final but also breathes life into American hopes on clay, a surface that has historically been a stumbling block.