Tommy Paul’s Coach Reveals Bizarre Locker Room Incident That Sparked Injury Struggles: “His Stuff Was Gone”

“I don’t like losing in any situation. I am a competitive guy,” declared Tommy Paul, the fiery American whose 2025 season has fallen short of expectations. Grand Slams, in particular, have been unforgiving. At the US Open, he exited in the third round despite his prowess on hard courts. Roland Garros promised a deeper run, yet injuries repeatedly sabotaged his potential. As the season ends, Paul’s coach, Brad Stine, has lifted the veil on a bizarre locker room incident. It triggered these events as he revealed a surprising chapter behind Paul’s injury woes. 

On an episode of The Inside In Tennis podcast, Tommy Paul’s coach, Brad Stine, opened up about the American’s challenging 2025 season. Stine recounted how it happened during the clay court season at the Madrid Open, to be precise. He referenced Paul’s Round of 16 loss to Jack Draper, which caused the odd locker-room incident to gather fire. 

Stine explained the vivid details, “We get to the courts and, you know, I don’t think anybody did anything underhanded or anything like that, but all of his stuff was gone from his locker, which included his shoes and inside of his shoes, his orthotics.” The missing gear, particularly the well-worn orthotics, would prove pivotal in the following struggles. 

“These orthotics were really, those were older orthotics that were kind of broken in. And so, you know, he had a second pair of orthotics, but they were brand new, a little bit stiff. And, you know, he did some fitness, some training, you know, obviously on the court practicing and those kinds of things,” Stine explained. The sudden transition to new, rigid orthotics disrupted Paul’s rhythm and stability. It also planted the seeds of a persistent injury that would haunt him for months.

“And all of a sudden his foot starts bothering him. And, you know, we’re convinced obviously that it was the transition to the newer orthotics. Foot started getting worse and worse and worse,” Stine added. Despite ongoing treatment from Paul’s physio, Seba, the discomfort intensified, creating a constant battle on and off the court. “He was playing on it and everything, but it was definitely bothering him,” Stine emphasized, revealing Paul’s tenacity and pain during this period.

The problem lingered as the tour progressed. While heading to Paris, the duo felt reassured about winning some matches, but the lingering pain tempered their optimism. “But it was really tempered in everyone’s mind by the fact that he was dealing with the situation, went and got an MRI there, and they looked at the MRI, and we had an MRI later again at Wimbledon, and it was the exact same thing,” stated Stine. 

He clarified the medical issue by saying Paul had a peroneus longus tendon. It is the tendon of the peroneus longus muscle, located in the outer part of the lower leg. Significantly, the tendon remains crucial in supporting the arches of the foot. Stine continued underscoring Paul’s pain, “And in the end, again, it was just very painful through Paris. And dealing with a lot of that, and he battled his way through two, three out of five set match, two five set matches against Puchovic and against Hatchinov.”

Brad Stine’s revelation sheds light on why Tommy Paul has struggled to maintain consistency this season. The odd locker room incident and the resulting foot injury have affected the American’s performance, leaving a tangible void wherever he plays. 

His absence was notably felt in team events, as the American squad grappled with the challenges of competing without one of its most competitive and tenacious players. This highlighted just how critical Paul is to his team’s aspirations. Now, this could be a cause for concern, as the US Davis Cup collapse certainly raises new questions. 

Was Tommy Paul’s absence the key factor in the US Davis Cup collapse?

The United States holds an unmatched legacy in Davis Cup history, claiming the trophy 32 times since 1900. Yet, despite this illustrious past, the national team hasn’t hoisted the coveted trophy since defeating Russia 4-1 in 2007, nearly two decades ago. In 2024, Australia ended America’s campaign in the quarterfinals, but 2025 brought an even harsher reality. The US couldn’t even qualify for the main event after a shocking 3-2 defeat to Czechia in the Davis Cup qualifiers. It left fans and analysts scrambling to pinpoint the reasons for this collapse. The heartbreak unfolded in Delray Beach, Florida, where young Czech sensation Jakub Mensik sealed victory in the deciding singles match against Frances Tiafoe. 

Former world No. 1 John Isner weighed in on the US defeat during the Nothing Major podcast. He pinpointed a critical factor: “I think Bob (Bryan) was dealt a tough hand with the fact that Ben (Shelton) and Tommy Paul were not available.” Isner added, “So you know his options were, I mean so many good American players, but a bit limited, you know, you would have liked to have possibly had a Ben or Tommy in that situation.”

Shelton’s absence and Paul’s unavailability clearly left the team lacking firepower in crucial moments. While the American roster remains deep, missing two of the country’s brightest stars made Czechia the favorites. 

Tommy Paul, currently ranked world No. 15, could feature at an upcoming hard-court tournament in Sweden. Fans will monitor his return from injury as they remain confident the young American will reclaim his form. Paul’s career is just getting started, as the US tennis fans would want him to be fit and healthy.