According to coach Brad Stine, the issue with Paul’s foot began after he was forced to break in new orthotics when his existing ones disappeared from the locker room at the Mutua Madrid Open. Paul would endure a subsequent abdominal injury at Roland Garros, but it was the “pop” he heard during his Wimbledon second-round loss that heightened concerns after he was unable to step on court to defend his grass-court title at the Queen’s Club with a career-high ranking of No. 8.
A ruptured tendon was soon confirmed with an MRI, leaving Paul in a boot for two weeks as he attempted to recover in time for the North American hard-court swing. He got engaged to girlfriend Paige Lorenze ahead of starting up again on the court in Cincinnati.
“With practice the past couple of weeks, it was pretty good. I told my coach, ‘I think we’re good to go for Cincy, at least, and get some matches,’” Paul said at the time.
The American went 29-13 on the back of quarterfinal showings at the Australian Open and Roland Garros and a semifinal run in Rome. Paul is slated to appear at Madison Square Garden in December for the second edition of the Garden Cup alongside Nick Kyrgios, Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka.
