Tommy Paul and the metamorphosis that turns him into a serious threat at Wimbledon

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 19 Jun 2026 | 09.33

Tommy Paul, threat at Wimbledon. Photo: gettyimages

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Tommy Paul faces the grass season and Wimbledon 2026 as one of the most dangerous players on the ATP circuit. The American, winner of Queen's in 2024, has explained alongside his coach, Brad Stine, the keys to a transformation that has made him a threat on this surface and fuels his aspirations to achieve the best result of his career at Wimbledon.

Not long ago, the idea would have seemed strange even to the protagonist himself. Tommy Paul never considered himself a grass court specialist and did not fit the classic profile of an American player built around serve and short points. However, results have ended up shaping a different reality.

With a title in Queen's, a final in Eastbourne, and a steadily improving performance on grass, the North American arrives at this stage of the season convinced that he can compete against anyone. A significant part of this evolution is credited to a clear source: Brad Stine, the coach who identified enormous potential on grass when the player himself couldn't see it.

Brad Stine and the transformation of Tommy Paul on grass

Their relationship began in 2019, a moment that Paul considers one of the most important in his career. Not only did it bring an experienced coach into the picture, but it also marked a shift in mentality. It was the point where he decided to take a much more active role in shaping his career and established a professional structure around his tennis.

"When I started working with Brad, it was a pivotal moment in my career because it was the first time I invested in a coach and began to take real ownership of my career," explained Paul in statements collected by the ATP. Interestingly, Stine saw something in his game that the player himself couldn't appreciate. While Paul still associated his game with other surfaces, the coach was convinced that grass could become one of his best stages.

"I never thought I would be a grass player. Interestingly, he was one of the people who told me that my game would fit very well on this surface." That notion repeated over time until it became a shared conviction. "He told me so many times that I ended up believing it."

The anecdote perfectly reflects the work of many elite coaches. It is not just about correcting technical aspects or designing tactics for matches. It is also about helping the player uncover facets of themselves that they have not fully developed. Stine had been convinced for years that Paul's mobility, coordination, athletic ability, and hands' sensitivity could make him an extremely effective player on grass.

Tommy Paul, capable of performing well on clay and grass

One of the most interesting aspects of this evolution is that it breaks some of the old stereotypes associated with surfaces. For decades, there was a sense that clay court specialists and grass court specialists belonged to completely different categories. However, modern tennis is proving that this boundary is much blurrier than it seemed.

Tommy Paul epitomizes this trend. Despite being American, he has likely become the player from his country who offers the best performance on clay. His results on this surface in recent years have been extraordinary, allowing him to compete head-to-head with some of the best specialists on the circuit.

Far from hindering his performance on grass, these qualities seem to complement it. Similar is the case with Lorenzo Musetti. The Italian has shown that a tennis style based on creativity, tactical intelligence, variety, and the ability to interpret points can work equally well on clay as on grass. These are players who understand the game beyond a specific surface.

Paul clearly belongs to that group. He does not rely solely on serve or power. He is a player capable of constructing points, reading complex situations, and finding different solutions according to the match circumstances. In a time characterized by the homogenization of surfaces, these abilities have become tremendously valuable tools.

The aggressiveness that Brad Stine introduced into Tommy Paul's game

Although tactical intelligence has always been part of his game, Stine believed from the outset that Paul needed to develop a more aggressive version of himself to make the final leap.

"I think he also transformed my game a bit to make me a more aggressive player, and that has been a very important part of the success I have had overall."

This evolution is noticeable when analyzing the American's trajectory over the past few seasons. He remains one of the best defenders on the circuit and continues to stand out for his foot speed, but now he incorporates offensive patterns much more frequently than before.

In fact, Stine himself believes there is still room for further evolution. "Tommy never comes to the net enough for my taste." The coach admits jokingly that it is an ongoing battle between them. "I always want him to come up more."

The explanation makes a lot of sense when considering the nature of the surface. Grass rewards those who can take initiative and shorten exchanges when the opportunity arises. That is why Stine constantly emphasizes the need to incorporate more offensive resources.

"Sometimes he says it's hard to come to the net against certain players because they hit very deep, making it difficult to attack. My response is always the same: you can always serve and volley, and you can always come in behind the second serve." According to the coach, these patterns are part of the strategy specifically designed for this time of year. "They are two ways to pressure opponents more and make them uncomfortable on grass. These are aspects we continually emphasize during this tour."

Wimbledon emerges as a great opportunity for Tommy Paul

The grass season comes at a particularly favorable moment for the American. After the physical issues that affected this part of the calendar last year, he has hardly any points to defend over the next few weeks, a circumstance that allows him to approach each tournament with the feeling of having much more to gain than to lose.

Stine admits he would love to have more time to exploit his player's virtues on this surface. "I wish the grass season lasted four more weeks." The reason is simple. Paul could barely compete during the lead-up to Wimbledon last year, putting him in a very favorable ranking position now.

"He hardly has any points to defend. Before Wimbledon last season, he couldn't even play the previous grass tournaments. Anything he achieves now will be a gain."

However, the matter goes beyond the world ranking. For Stine, the most important thing is arriving at the All England Club with confidence, competitive rhythm, and the feeling of playing solid tennis.

"Before Wimbledon, you want to play as many matches as possible on this surface. Winning matches in a tournament like Queen's is fantastic for confidence."

Perhaps that is the main difference from previous years. Tommy Paul no longer arrives on grass questioning if he can adapt to it. That phase is long gone. Results have shown that he possesses all the necessary tools to perform at a high level on grass, and that his combination of tactical intelligence, mobility, and aggressiveness can be extremely effective under these conditions.

Now the challenge is different. It is no longer about proving his place in the conversation. It is about seeing how far he can go within it. And with Wimbledon drawing closer, both Tommy Paul and Brad Stine seem convinced that there is still room to discover the best version of a player who, against all odds, has found one of his favorite surfaces in grass.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tommy Paul y la metamorfosis que le convierte en seria amenaza en Wimbledon

Tommy Paul