The tennis world was abuzz with anticipation for the 2025 Queen’s Club Championships, where American star Tommy Paul was set to defend his 2024 title. However, the World No. 8 sent shockwaves through the sport when he announced his withdrawal from the prestigious ATP 500 event, citing persistent abdominal pain and an adductor injury that had plagued him since the French Open. As fans grappled with the news, a social media storm erupted, with one troll attempting to pin the blame on Paul’s girlfriend, Paige Lorenze. The influencer and entrepreneur, known for her vibrant presence courtside, fired back with a sharp, humorous response that showcased her unwavering support for Paul and her knack for handling criticism with flair.
Paul’s withdrawal from Queen’s, announced on June 13, 2025, was a significant blow, not only to his fans but also to his ATP ranking, as he is set to lose the 500 points earned from his 2024 triumph. Last year, Paul etched his name into the history books as the first American to win the tournament since Sam Querrey in 2010, defeating Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in a commanding 6-1, 7-6(8) final. “Hearing about the names in the locker room, it is unbelievable,” Paul said after his victory, reflecting on joining the likes of John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, and Andy Roddick. “It was my goal to put my name next to them.” His 2024 season was a career-defining one, with additional titles at the Dallas Open and Stockholm Open, propelling him to a career-high ranking of No. 12 and the title of America’s top male player, surpassing Taylor Fritz.
The controversy surrounding Paul’s withdrawal reignited a narrative from the 2024 Queen’s Club Championships, where Lorenze faced backlash for her enthusiastic presence during the trophy presentation. After Paul’s victory, she broke tradition by joining him on court, posing with the trophy and gripping his neck in a gesture some fans deemed overly assertive. Social media erupted, with comments like, “If Tommy Paul’s girlfriend could, she would kick him and pose with the trophy herself,” and accusations that she was stealing the spotlight. One viral post even quipped, “This is the most UNCOMFORTABLE pic in tennis history!” Lorenze, unfazed, leaned into the criticism with humor, later posting a cheeky vlog response with Paul, where they playfully mimicked the “claw” pose, and she commented, “Live laugh love claw.”
This time, as Paul’s withdrawal sparked renewed trolling, a parody account on X posted a 2024 photo of Lorenze gripping Paul’s neck, sarcastically captulating, “Tommy Paul on withdrawing from Queen’s Club: ‘My neck still hurts from last year.’” Lorenze, ever quick-witted, shut down the jab with a playful, “Can’t a girl just be supportive… of her man’s neck,” a response that drew praise for its humor and poise. Her clapback highlighted the strength of their bond, forged since they began dating in 2022 after meeting at the US Open. Lorenze, a former competitive skier turned influencer with nearly 630,000 Instagram followers, has been a constant presence at Paul’s matches, from the Australian Open semifinals in 2023 to his Stockholm Open triumph in October 2024, where she celebrated remotely with a heartfelt, “So proud of you.”
Beyond her courtside cheerleading, Lorenze is a force in her own right, having founded the lifestyle brand Dairy Boy in 2021, which sells everything from denim to nostalgic candles. “I want to build a brand that is a reflection of my style and aesthetic,” she once shared, emphasizing her ambition to transition from influencer to creative director. Her relationship with Paul, while long-distance between Florida and Connecticut, is marked by mutual admiration. Paul, in a candid moment, admitted that tennis can be a “sore subject” at home, as he often promises to play with Lorenze but succumbs to laziness. “I’m not going to lie, I’m pretty impressed,” he said of her skills. “She plays pretty good, she has the strokes down.”
As Paul focuses on recovery for Wimbledon, where he reached the quarterfinals in 2024 before falling to Carlos Alcaraz, Lorenze’s support remains unwavering. Her ability to navigate online criticism with humor and grace underscores her role as Paul’s biggest cheerleader, proving that whether on the court or in the comments section, she’s ready to stand by her man—neck grip and all.
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