As Tommy Paul caught his breath, his thoughts turned to his girlfriend.

It was January 2023 and the US tennis star had just won his first Grand Slam semi-finals at the Australian Open. During his post-game interview, he gave a sweet shout out to his loved ones watching in the stand.

Among them was his partner, Paige Lorenze.

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“It’s my girlfriend Paige’s birthday tomorrow,” Paul told the crowd.

“So, if you guys see her, make sure you wish her a happy birthday.”

In that moment, Paul and Lorenze’s relationship was elevated to celebrity status.

The exact details of how Paul and Lorenze met are not publicly known, however, they reportedly met a month before the US Open in 2022.

The 27-year-old hard launched their relationship on Instagram posting pics of them together captioned, “Photos by P”.

Like Paul, Lorenze is familiar with the spotlight.

The 26-year-old model and influencer owns her own lifestyle brand and boasts over half a million Instagram followers.

She’s also experienced when it comes to high-profile pairings.

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She has previously been in relationships with actor Armie Hammer, singer Morgan Wallen and NHL hockey player Kasperi Kapanen.

However, what might be little known about Lorenze is she is a former downhill ski racer and has a first-hand understanding of the demands of sport.

“I’m very aware of what it takes to have that kind of skill and determination especially as an individual athlete. I have so much respect for all the players,” she told Sportskeeda.

“These guys really have to live, breath tennis. I love watching Tommy play and he’s so deserving of all the success he’s had and will continue to have.”

She grew up in Connecticut and Vermont before moving to New York to study at the Parson’s School of Design. She graduated in 2021 and founded her label, Dairy Boy.

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“I am a businesswoman, so I am in this public sphere that is my work,” she told season two of Netflix’s tennis documentary series, Break Point.

“Tommy has always wanted to be a top American player, but he doesn’t really thrive off the media attention… I kept saying to him, ‘This is a good thing. Just try to enjoy being here and getting the recognition you deserve’.”

As well as gaining notoriety off court, Lorenze is fast becoming one of the faces of court-side tennis style.

She told Essentially Sports she’s inspired by some of fashion’s most influential icons.

“I look up to women who have had a lasting impact on the fashion world,” she said.

“From Princess Diana and Jane Birkin to Bridgette Bardot, Vivienne Westwood, and of course, the more modern icon Kate Middleton, who undoubtedly has the best fashion sense when it comes to tennis.”

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Outside of her business and social updates, Lorenze admitted she still has a competitive nature when it comes to sports.

“Tommy has been giving me tennis lessons and I have been playing at home, I’m getting the hang of it. I love sports,” she said.

”Downhill Ski Racing was a large part of my life for a long time, so I definitely still have that competitive nature and am determined to get decent at it. I have been joking with Tommy asking him if his agents have signed us up for mixed doubles yet.”

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