Tennis Atlantic

NCAA Champion Paul Jubb Shows Promise in Opening Round Eastbourne Loss
Eric Han for Tennis Atlantic

It has been a big week for 19-year-old Paul Jubb. Not only did he play his first ever professional match at Eastbourne, but he also received a wildcard for the main draw at Wimbledon where he will make his Grand Slam debut. The young Brit (and South Carolina Gamecock player) came through qualifying after beating Russia’s Andrey Rublev in the final round. However, his final preparations for Wimbledon ended, as he was defeated by America’s Taylor Fritz in straight sets 6-2 6-3 in the first round on Monday.

When asked about whether if he thought he played well and his general thoughts about the match, Jubb said: “Yeah, definitely. Just another good match under the belt for more experience, and that’s all I’m trying to gain now. (Fritz) doesn’t give much rhythm. Obviously he serves really well. Has a huge forehand. Yeah, he takes a lot of points away from you so there’s not much rhythm there.”

“It’s just been a tough four weeks or whatever. Yeah, a bit tough on the body, the grass is. But, yeah, just recovery is key right now.”

Jubb’s serve was broken four times throughout the match, the young Brit commented about it, “Yeah, it’s something where it’s good to keep getting better, and it’s something that has been a weak part of my game and something I have been trying to get better.”

Jubb, who is still a college student at the University of South Carolina, also commented on what is in the store for him in the next few months, “Just getting more experience now on the pro tour, playing more matches at this level hopefully. Yeah, and then right now I’ll be going back to college. That’s still my decision.”

“It depends with classes and stuff. Not sure how many more I’ve got to take. I might end up having to go back another semester to finish classes”

“(I) Just make the most of those opportunities I have been presented and just compete my hardest and see what happens. And the more the weeks went on, I managed to do a bit better each week. Showing potential there. So, yeah, just very grateful, really.”

Jubb also recently became the first ever Brit to win the NCAA singles title – the highest tier of college tennis in the USA. “The top of college tennis, this season I had I was playing good players week in, week out. It’s something that’s helped me prepare for this moment. I had a lot of good wins under my belt in college. So a lot of the good tennis I’m playing now is because of what I have done this past season”

“I definitely wouldn’t be here now if I didn’t go that route, I don’t think.”

The teenage Brit also discussed his admiration for the current world no.1 Novak Djokovic, and revealed that he copies the Serb’s returning stance, “I just love the way he moves so elegantly and just the way he plays. Yeah, just the way he can shut down the court. Yeah, just physically outplay people. Yeah, I just love his game.”

“Like, I have studied Novak’s game for so long and just — that was just, that return stance, I felt comfortable doing that. Yeah, I have used that stance for a long time.”