Tommy Paul is being spoken about at the Australian Open and it’s not just for his tennis.
Paul is the current world number 20, but he has been as high as eighth in the ATP rankings.
The American number three faces some challenges in 2025, with Paul missing most of the second half of the season due to a foot injury he suffered at Wimbledon.
Paul is now looking to return to both form and fitness in 2026, starting Down Under for the Australian Open.
Tommy Paul says he has received some comments about his Australian Open outfit
Paul has made a strong start to the 2026 season, which has included reaching the semifinals of the Adelaide International.
As he switched his attention to the first Grand Slam of the year, Paul made a winning start against his compatriot Aleksandar Kovacevic, who he beat in straight sets.
While tennis is the main priority for Paul, there has also been attention brought to his purple New Balance kit.
As reported on tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg’s Substack called Bounces, Paul revealed that some people had been mocking his kit and comparing him to a Teletubby character.
“I’ve been getting made fun of a little bit, but I like it,” said Paul. “They say I look like the Teletubby, Tinky Winky.”
Paul is not the only player who has come onto court with an eye-catching outfit, with Naomi Osaka causing a huge reaction on social media after playing her first match at the Australian Open.
Tommy Paul’s potential run to the Australian Open title
Paul will try not to let the teasing about his kit faze him, as he looks to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick in 2003.
Although he is not one of the top contenders at the first major of 2026, Paul has reached the semifinals of the Australian Open before and should not be underestimated.
If he is able to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open again, Paul could be a big threat to top seed Carlos Alcaraz, who he has beaten twice before.
| Australian Open 2026 | Tommy Paul’s potential opponent |
| First Round | Beat Aleksandar Kovacevic, 6-4 6-3 6-3 |
| Second Round | Thiago Agustin Tirante |
| Third Round | Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (14)/Reilly Opelka |
| Fourth Round | Carlos Alcaraz (1)/Corentin Moutet (32) |
| Quarterfinal | Alex de Minaur (6)/Alexander Bublik (10)/Frances Tiafoe (29)/Marton Fucsovics |
| Semifinal | Alexander Zverev (3)/Daniil Medvedev (11)/Andrey Rublev (13)/Francisco Cerundolo (18) |
| Final | Jannik Sinner (2)/Novak Djokovic (4)/Lorenzo Musetti (5)/Ben Shelton (8) |
Before Paul can even think about a potential meeting with Alcaraz, he will have to overcome his second round opponent Thiago Agustin Tirante.
This is a first-time meeting between Paul and Tirante, which will take place on 1573 Arena on Wednesday, January 21.
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