Tommy Paul's successful return after Miami ankle injury

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Tommy Paul's strong start to the 2024 season was met with an abrupt setback in Miami, where the 26-year-old suffered an ankle sprain while leading Martin Damm in his opening match.

Thankfully, the American’s injury was nothing severe and on Friday, Paul was back in action at the Mutua Madrid Open, where the 15th seed defeated Slovakian Lukas Klien 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-4. The two-hour, 20-minute battle allowed Paul to gauge his fitness level after a month of rehab and training.

“The goal was to get back for this tournament. I got two really good weeks of training, pretty much running side to side, [that’s] how we train for the clay-court season,” Paul said during a post-match interview with Tennis Channel. “I was really happy with how everything went.

“I got a few weeks to really put some work in. We always get it in the gym also. I feel like I’m coming here fit.”

Paul won his first tour-level title since 2021 in February at the Dallas Open and extended his winning streak to seven by reaching the Delray Beach final the following week. After his second ATP Masters 1000 semi-final appearance in Indian Wells, the No. 16 player in the PIF ATP Rankings was poised to build upon his momentum during the second leg of the 'Sunshine Double'. Then, adversity struck in south Florida.

“It kind of sucked. We were waiting for the swelling to go down to get the MRI so it was two, three, four days there that we didn’t even know the severity of the injury,” Paul said. “We didn’t know what the ligaments looked like in there. After the swelling went down, we got pretty good news, it wasn’t anything too bad. Kind of routine for an ankle sprain. We got back to work. We spent a lot of time on the table, a lot of time rehabbing the ankle.”

The time away from the match court was not all bad news for Paul, who made sure to soak in any off time enjoying one of his hobbies.

“I actually got my boat. I got a fishing boat, so I’m dialled [in] when I go back,” said the North Carolina native, who next faces 21st seed Francisco Cerundolo in what will be their fifth Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting (2-2).

Comeback complete ✅

[15] @TommyPaul1 reels in Klein 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-4 🔜 R3!@MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/NXTPemH6Ec

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 26, 2024