"We’ve got Matteo Berrettini": Tommy Paul's hilarious response as to why tennis is 'sexiest sport on earth'
ATPSaturday, 02 May 2026 at 02:00
Tommy Paul brought a relaxed, candid energy to Tennis Channel’s Confessional Cart segment, answering a rapid-fire mix of tennis insight, personal opinions, and off-court habits while travelling through the interview.
From the outset, Paul leaned into the informal setting, greeting the interviewer casually before the quick-fire format began. “Good, how are you?” he said when asked how he was doing, before the segment officially got underway for Tennis Channel.
“I thought I was pretty good at 12”
When asked when he first realised he was good at tennis, Paul reflected on his early confidence as a junior. “Like at 12 years old, I thought I was pretty good,” he said. “As time went on, I actually thought I got worse. But when I was really young, I thought I was really good.”
On grunting in tennis and dealing with losses
The conversation turned light-hearted when Paul was asked about the infamous grunting in tennis. “I will not grunt for you,” he said with a laugh, “but I guess it’s to release some air. I’m pretty inconsistent with my grunts. Some matches I’ll do it, some not at all.”
Paul also gave a more grounded insight into how he handles disappointment after tough defeats. “I talk to my coach a lot, but usually we give it a day to settle down and not be emotional,” he explained. “The night or day after a loss is tough to talk about for me.”
Perspective on the sport and why tennis is sexiest sport on earth
In a brief reflective moment, Paul acknowledged the wider experience of being on tour. “You guys are in tennis paradise,” he said to viewers. “If you’re not here, you get to watch it. We’re all just blessed to be playing such a great sport.”
When asked to make a case for why tennis is the “sexiest sport on earth,” Paul gave a short and direct answer. "We’ve got Matteo Berrettini,” he said. “That’s why it’s the sexiest sport on earth.”
Tommy Paul playing in Dallas.
Unfiltered opinions and GOAT debate
One of the more unexpected moments came when Paul was asked for an unapologetic opinion. “I think rap is dead,” he said. “I used to love rap music, but I think it’s completely dead, and I won’t apologise for saying that.”
On the familiar greatest-of-all-time debate, Paul didn’t hesitate to mention Novak Djokovic, but made his personal preference clear. “It’s hard not to say Novak,” referring to Novak Djokovic Novak Djokovic, “but for me Roger was always my GOAT,” referring to Roger Federer Roger Federer.
Tour competitors and rivalries
When asked about the most quietly intense competitor on tour, Paul highlighted his compatriot. “Fritz is an unbelievable competitor,” he said. He also took part in a series of quick-fire hypotheticals, including a choice between taking a ball to the face or groin in doubles, to which he replied bluntly: “Probably face. Definitely face.” And when given the choice between a press conference or Confessional Cart, Paul didn’t hesitate: “Confessional Cart, definitely.”
Life off the court and question for next rider
The final questions turned personal, with Paul revealing a fairly low-key lifestyle away from tennis. “I don’t go out very much. I stay home a lot,” he said. “My go-to drink would just be a Miller Lite. I’m a beer guy.” To close the segment, Paul was asked to pose a question for the next “rider.” “When was the last time you snapped a racket?” he asked. “In a match, and also in practice.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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