“My legs failed me”: Tommy Paul vents frustration after Wimbledon collapse against Hurkacz

Sunday, 05 July 2026 at 04:30

Tommy Paul’s Wimbledon campaign ended in frustration and physical collapse, as the 21st seed was beaten in four sets by former semifinalist Hubert Hurkacz. What began as a controlled performance for the American gradually unravelled across two and a half hours of attritional grass-court tennis.

Paul had taken the opening set but ultimately fell 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-5, 6-2, a scoreline that reflected a decisive shift in momentum after the first-set advantage. Hurkacz, more efficient on serve and increasingly aggressive in baseline exchanges, progressed to the fourth round after weathering early pressure.

The match turned on physical and tactical margins. Paul admitted post-match that his level deteriorated sharply after the opening set, with his movement and serve both compromised as fatigue became a decisive factor on the Wimbledon lawns.

The defeat adds a disappointing chapter to Paul’s grass-court season, which had shown intermittent promise but ultimately ended with questions over physical conditioning and match management at Grand Slam intensity.

Physical collapse shifts momentum at Wimbledon

Paul’s early control of the match did not hold under sustained pressure from Hurkacz, whose serving performance became increasingly decisive after the opening set. The Pole raised his level on return and dictated longer exchanges, forcing the American into a more defensive posture that he struggled to sustain physically across three subsequent sets.

Paul later acknowledged that Hurkacz had taken command of the match dynamics after a competitive start, particularly through improved aggression on the forehand side. The shift coincided with a visible drop in Paul’s court positioning and rally tolerance, which became more pronounced as the match progressed.

“I thought Hubi played pretty well. He served very well. I think after the first set, he really picked up his level. I thought he started hitting his forehand well, changing direction really well. I mean, he obviously played a lot better than I did today.”

The turning point, however, was not solely tactical. Paul pointed to a progressive physical decline that he felt undermined his ability to compete at the required intensity for a Grand Slam third-round match.

“How was I feeling emotionally? I mean, I was pretty pissed. I was pissed, because I felt like my legs were very, very tired. You know, you're playing Wimbledon. You want to be prepared. I mean, I feel like it's pretty unacceptable for your legs to fail you, I mean, especially this early in a Grand Slam."

"So I was very upset about that. I mean, that's what was going through my mind, I guess," the 29-year-old player added. The admission underscores a broader concern for Paul, who has generally been viewed as one of the more physically robust players inside the ATP top tier.

Serving inefficiency and grass-court concerns

Beyond physical fatigue, Paul highlighted structural issues in his own game, particularly on serve. He described a lack of rhythm on first delivery and an overreliance on second serves, which allowed Hurkacz to dictate return positioning and extend baseline pressure throughout the match.

As the contest progressed, Paul’s ball depth also deteriorated, enabling Hurkacz to step inside the baseline more frequently and shorten points in his favour. “I think I could have served a lot better. I’m not sure what my first-serve percentage was, but it felt like I hit a second serve every single point.”

“I feel like I started hitting the ball a lot shorter in the court,” the American added. “Once it got to the groundstrokes, I feel like I was on defense a lot more than I should have been.”

The broader assessment of his grass-court swing was equally restrained. While Paul acknowledged a solid showing at Queen’s, he stopped short of describing his Wimbledon performance in positive terms, instead framing it as a missed opportunity to build momentum.

“Then in terms of my grass court season, definitely not too pumped about it. I played pretty well in Queen’s. And then here, I don’t know, I wanted to do better obviously, to answer your question.”

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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