MADDY & TJ

​The two went out for a casual lunch and neither could stop talking, smiling, or laughing. There was clearly something in the air. TJ waited three days max before asking out Maddy for a second time. This time, dinner at Mateo, a rather serious date spot for college kids. 

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At dinner, the walls started to come down and things got real when they opened up about their fathers. TJ shared that his dad, Tom Pura, passed away suddenly when he was 12. Maddy shared that her dad, Shawn Price, was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of melanoma cancer. That said, the most evident take-away from the conversation was the unending love, admiration and respect the two shared for their fathers and family. From this dinner-on-out, Maddy and TJ became close friends and confidantes.​​​​​​​

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Until one night at a holiday party, the two shared their first kiss. Despite the immediate nervous feeling that we “ruined the friendship”, Maddy and TJ started to hang out as much as their busy schedules would allow, and began to fall deeply in love. 

 

For the next two years, Maddy and TJ fell hard, endlessly supporting each other through a time of change, transition, and nearly 12 months of long distance. Both were trying to “figure out their lives and chase big dreams” after graduation, Maddy in a bit more linear way than TJ. Maddy’s post-grad year involved earning her Masters from Duke and running track professionally, competing in her first World Champs. Legendary. TJ’s post-grad year involved 3 months of social impact investing in Brazil, 4 months of pro tennis and 5 months coaching his close friend and roommate, Tommy Paul, who he got a dog with (Brooklyn!). At the end of all this, TJ decided he was going the finance route long-term, so he moved to NYC to pursue investment banking. Whirlwind.

 

At this time, given the life uncertainty ahead, Maddy and TJ made the mutual, but brutal decision to part ways. Both were heartbroken but knew at the time, it was the best thing. (TJ even told his mom Sara after: "It's ok, I'll still marry Maddy))

 

From November 2018 through March 2020, the love story pauses...well sort of...

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Maddy and TJ still remained close friends, checked in on each other from time-to-time, and may or may not have organized a couple secret rendezvous. 

 

Then, COVID happens. Although it’s still unclear who made the original invitation for TJ to come stay down in Durham "for a week or so until this corona virus passes" (lol oops), the rest is pretty much history. Weeks turned to months, months turned to years, and the two haven’t skipped a beat since. 

 

5 years have passed, filled with more change, various moves, and some more time apart. From locale changes (Durham → Austin → Durham), career changes (TJP pivots from finance, moves to Nashville to coach at Vanderbilt, then back to Duke to become the Men's Tennis Assistant Coach) and life changes (MJP making 2 Canadian Olympic Teams (4th in Tokyo yay) + start-up jobs/speaking engagements/partnerships), the constant force has been Maddy and TJ’s unwavering and unrelenting support in times of change.

 

Now, in 2025, MJP and TJP are embarking upon the Duke Tennis season, Maddy’s racing season, and our marriage season. Through all the seasons of life, past, present, and future, we are excited to share them with you and celebrate our love on October 10th!!! Wohooooo!! 

 

Fire it up kids.