The 2025 French Open kicked off at Roland Garros with a thrilling display of resilience from American star Tommy Paul, who battled past Denmark’s Elmer Moller in a grueling first-round match on May 25. The 12th-seeded Paul, ranked world No. 12, rallied from a set down to defeat the 21-year-old qualifier 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 in a three-hour epic on Court Simonne-Mathieu, advancing to the second round for the fifth time in his career. Post-match, Paul reflected on the “strange” and “unusual” challenge posed by Moller, a Grand Slam debutant who pushed him to the brink with his relentless energy. “It’s a bit strange, you know, facing someone like Elmer who’s just coming out swinging with nothing to lose,” Paul said. “He’s got this unusual intensity for a qualifier, and that first set was a wake-up call.” As Paul prepares to face Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics next, his ability to adapt to Moller’s fearless style signals a player ready to capitalize on his favorable draw and chase a deep run on the Parisian clay.
Moller, a lucky loser who earned his main-draw spot through qualifying wins over Facundo Bagnis, Kimmer Coppejans, and Matteo Gigante, brought unexpected firepower. The Dane, ranked No. 176, seized the first set in a tiebreak, capitalizing on Paul’s early errors with a barrage of winners—22 to Paul’s 15 in the opener. “He was hitting shots I didn’t expect,” Paul noted. “It’s unusual to see a guy ranked that low play with such confidence on a stage like this.” Rain interruptions added to the match’s intensity, with play halted briefly in the third set, but Paul regrouped, dominating the final two sets with 42 winners and a 77% first-serve point rate. His ability to tighten his game, reducing unforced errors to 19 compared to Moller’s 38, proved decisive as he overwhelmed the debutant in the fourth set, nearly delivering a bagel.
Paul’s journey to this victory was anything but straightforward. Fresh off a semifinal run at the Italian Open, where he lost to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Paul arrived in Paris with confidence but also an off-court distraction: his beloved Ford truck was repossessed during Rome due to missed payments after a bank switch. “I missed, I think it was, like three payments,” he said, chuckling. “They came and took it. I didn’t know it happened like that.” The ordeal, which he described as a “stressful week,” didn’t derail his focus, as he celebrated both his win and the truck’s return on Sunday. His clay-court form, bolstered by an 8-3 record this season, including a Houston semifinal and Rome’s last four, positions him well for a tournament where he’s never advanced past the third round.
Moller’s performance, while ultimately falling short, marked him as a name to watch. His Oeiras Open title on the Challenger Tour earlier in 2025 showcased his potential, but facing a seasoned player like Paul exposed the gap in experience. “He’s got talent, no doubt,” Paul said of Moller. “He made me work for every point, which is what you don’t always expect from a qualifier.” Paul’s draw offers a golden opportunity, with Fucsovics, ranked No. 134, next, followed by a potential third-round clash with No. 24 seed Karen Khachanov, whom he lost to in Madrid. A favorable path, based on the average world ranking of likely opponents, could see Paul reach the second week for the first time, a milestone he’s yet to achieve at Roland Garros.
As the French Open unfolds without Rafael Nadal, the “King of Clay,” Paul carries the American flag alongside compatriots like Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe. His love for clay, unusual for an American, stems from his 2015 French Open boys’ singles title, and he thrives in the surface’s slower pace. “I’ve always felt comfortable on clay,” he said, reflecting on his junior success. With a tough draw looming for other top seeds like Alex de Minaur, Paul’s resilience against Moller’s “strange” intensity and his ability to navigate personal setbacks off the court make him a dark horse in a wide-open men’s field, ready to seize his moment in Paris.
# Tommy Paul Overcomes Strange Challenge in French Open First Round 2025
On May 25, 2025, Tommy Paul, the 12th seed, rallied past qualifier Elmer Moller 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 in a three-hour French Open first-round match on Court Simonne-Mathieu. The American described Moller’s play as “strange” and “unusual,” saying: “It’s a bit strange, you know, facing someone like Elmer who’s just coming out swinging with nothing to lose. He’s got this unusual intensity for a qualifier.”
## A Tough Battle
Moller, a No. 176-ranked lucky loser, won the first set in a tiebreak with 22 winners. “He was hitting shots I didn’t expect,” Paul said. Rain paused play in the third set, but Paul dominated thereafter, with 42 winners and 19 unforced errors to Moller’s 38. He nearly bageled the Dane in the fourth set, advancing to face Marton Fucsovics.
## Off-Court Drama
Paul’s Italian Open semifinal run was marred by his truck’s repossession due to missed payments: “I missed, I think it was, like three payments. They came and took it. I didn’t know it happened like that.” He celebrated its return post-match, maintaining focus despite the “stressful week.”
## Clay-Court Comfort
Paul’s 8-3 clay record in 2025, including Rome and Houston semifinals, suits his game. “I’ve always felt comfortable on clay,” he said, referencing his 2015 French Open boys’ title. Moller, fresh off an Oeiras Open win, impressed Paul: “He’s got talent, no doubt. He made me work for every point.”
## Looking Ahead
With a favorable draw, Paul faces Fucsovics next, potentially Karen Khachanov in the third round. His resilience against Moller’s intensity positions him for a breakthrough second week, carrying American hopes in a Nadal-less Roland Garros.
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