AO wildcard Patrick Kypson on green clay, grass and his greatest influences (The Sit-Down)

American Patrick Kypson joined The Sit-Down this week in a great place in his career. The 26-year-old sits at a peak ranking of No.117, thanks to results on the Challenger circuit which also helped him secure a main-draw wildcard at Australian Open 2026. After missing three months of 2025 due to a foot stress fracture and dropping outside the world’s top 450, Kypson soared when he returned, winning four ATP Challenger titles and benefitting from a commitment to more aggression and a better transition game to compliment the counterpunching instincts he honed from childhood on the green clay courts of North Carolina. During this interview Viv and Matt also learned about Kypson’s connection with leading Americans on the ATP Tour, his journey through the US college system, and what he’s targeting when his 2026 season begins Down Under.

Listen to the full episode here.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
And I did grow up on green clay. That was
the only surface we had at the time in Greenville
at that club. But I would say it's relatively uncommon
for most Americans. I think there's a decent amount of

(00:20):
clay courts green clay courts along the kind of the
southeastern coast Florida. But for me, that was the only
thing that I had For probably a year and a
half two years, I was just training get that club,
no hard courts, only place I would practice, So I
was definitely I definitely learned how to play tennis on
a clay court, and I think that's been helpful in

(00:43):
some ways and kind of unhelpful in other ways. I
think I'm trying to kind of unwire some of that
defensive mentality that I might have grown up with by
being on a clay court, but definitely has its pros
and cons and for sure unique Who.

Speaker 2 (00:59):
Would you say has had the biggest influence on your career, I.

Speaker 1 (01:02):
Would say my strength coach for many years, Brent Salazar.
I mean, it's tough to name one person, but he's
definitely at the top of that list. Was my strength
coach when I had recently turned professional and left my
university back in twenty eighteen and just kind of helped
shape me into what I'd like to think is a

(01:24):
professional professional athlete mentality and taught me the right way
to work and to think about things in my opinion.
And of course I've had many good coaches along the way,
several from the Federation and now my longtime coach, my
private coach, Alejandro Gonzalez, who's been working with me over

(01:46):
three years now. So I've always had a very good
team along with my physio as well, five years together.
So that's one thing very important to me is my
team and how close we are feels more like a
like a family than a business to me, which I
do like.

Speaker 2 (02:05):
Actually, speaking of family, you mentioned just before that your
family made a lot of sacrifices when you were younger.
What sort of did you have that family connection? I
guess to tennis from the stuff.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
Honestly, not really. Neither of my parents really played. My
father played a little bit in high school, but nothing
like serious or competitive. But they always allowed me to
kind of follow my dreams. And you know, I was
eleven years old I think when I moved down, not
fully moved, but was spending most of my time in

(02:38):
Florida at the USTA doing online school, living in a dorm.
So they were always very willing to allow me to
kind of pursue my dream and did everything they could
to make it possible.

Speaker 2 (02:51):
I'm always amazed at the dedication that that must take,
you know, when you hear about moving out of home,
when you see eleven, it's crazy.

Speaker 1 (03:00):
It's so crazy to look back and think about. For sure.

Speaker 2 (03:03):
Yeah, absolutely, there's a really curious line in your ATP bio.
Your favorite surface is listed as clay and your favorite
tournament is Wimbledon. How do you explain that one?

Speaker 1 (03:17):
Yes, that's interesting. I didn't really think about that. You
got me. I just I probably just thought at the time,
and I still do. I just think the prestige of
Wimbledon is just ultra cool. I think obviously the grass
court season is so short, it would be tough to
put your favorite surface as grass unless you're a true
grasscourt specialist, which I'm not at least yet. But I think, yeah,

(03:41):
just Wimbledon has that prestige to it and center core
Wimbledon's got that aura around it, and that's probably why
I put that down. How is your grasscore game. I
think it's okay. I think especially based on some adjustments
I'm trying to make in my game. In general, I'm
hoping that to

Speaker 2 (04:00):
Catch the rest of this episode, you can find the
link to the full show in the show notes, or
by heading to the sit Down wherever you listen to
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