"I'm Not Playing a Match Here Without Him" - An 11 Year Old Named Eddie Has Quickly Become a Good Luck Charm/Coach For Rising American Tommy Paul At This Year's US Open
There are four American men already into the Round of 16 at this year's US Open —Tommy Paul, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and Ben Shelton. There's actually a possible 5th joining them today in Michael Mmoh. While most people have their eyes on a Carlos Alcaraz-Novak Djokovic collision course, the Americans are trying to spoil the party.
Current world no. 11 Tommy Paul has added himself a good luck charm/coach to try and get him to the promised land. That would be an 11 year old named Eddie.
Here's the backstory. Tommy was struggling during his 2nd round match against the tricky Russian Roman Safiullin. He found himself down two sets to love and on the verge of an early trip home. All of a sudden this kid sitting court-side just kept screaming at him to pick it up, willing him on after every point. With the help of Eddie's encouragement, Tommy flipped the switch and proceeded to bulldoze the Russian leading to his first ever comeback from two sets down.
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After the match Tommy ran right over to Eddie to show him some love, gave him a shirt, and begged for him to come to his next match.
Yesterday Tommy was put on Arthur Ashe Stadium against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. I thought this was going to be a five set war, but I underestimated Eddie's presence. Paul raced to a 6-1 6-0 lead in the blink of an eye. He was unconscious.
Eddie approved.
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Paul prevailed in four sets and moved onto his first ever US Open Round of 16 appearance of his career. He was quick to acknowledge Eddie's efforts and told him he basically has no choice but to return on Sunday. Imagine Tommy wins this whole thing just so he doesn't disappoint an 11 year old?
In the next round he'll get fellow American Ben Shelton, a 20 year old rising star who scorched a 147 mph ace yesterday. Should be a great Sunday match, I presume back on Ashe.
As a Tommy Paul supporter myself I'm gonna need Eddie court-side again on Sunday. Whether it be Eddie or Tommy's girlfriend Paige Lorenze we need all the good luck charms possible if it means Paul being the first American since Roddick to win this title. Go Tommy Go.