Delray Seaside
Paul ousts prime seed Fritz in Delray Seaside, to face ‘undoubtedly certainly one of greatest gamers on this planet’
Tien rallies in opposition to Tiafoe, Korda upsets Ruud
February 21, 2026
Andrew Patron/BigShots Photograph
Tommy Paul defeats Taylor Fritz in straight units Friday night in Delray Seaside.
By ATP Workers
Two years in the past, Taylor Fritz cruised previous shut good friend Tommy Paul within the Delray Beach Open ultimate. Paul served his fellow American revenge Friday night on the identical court docket.
The fifth-seeded Paul upset Fritz 6-4, 6-3 in simply 76 minutes to sprint the highest seed’s hopes of claiming his third title on the ATP 250 occasion.
“The final time we performed was truly on this court docket, so it’s cool to play quarter-hour from residence in opposition to certainly one of my closest associates, longtime associates,” Paul stated in his on-court interview. “I heard numerous American tennis chants right this moment and I promise we love that stuff and we’re attempting actually arduous for you guys.”
Paul has identified Fritz since they have been juniors, gained a bronze medal together with his countryman on the 2024 Paris Olympics in males’s doubles and now could be degree with him of their Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence at 3-3 because of a clear efficiency in Florida.
“When it comes to the match, I believed I moved very well. I believed I served very well on the tight factors,” Paul stated. “Normally in case you maintain serve, you’ll be within the match and I discovered the best way on some massive break factors and I used to be actually proud of how I performed right this moment.”
The 28-year-old will subsequent play one of many fastest-rising stars on the ATP Tour, reigning Subsequent Gen ATP Finals champion Learner Tien, who rallied from a break down within the deciding set to get rid of 2018 Delray Seaside champion Frances Tiafoe 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-5.
“He’s clearly actually turned it on previously yr or so. He’s undoubtedly top-of-the-line gamers on this planet now,” Paul stated. “He’s an thrilling participant to observe. I haven’t performed him but, so we’ll see how he’s to play, I’m certain it’s not going to be straightforward. However I’m going to do every thing I can to prepare for that match.”
Sebastian Korda held his nerve on Saturday on the Delray Beach Open, delivering a composed efficiency to upset second seed Casper Ruud 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Together with his two-hour, six-minute win over the Norwegian, the American superior to his first semi-final on the match since 2021.
“I attempted battling as a lot as I might,” Korda stated. “Fortunately, I discovered some kind and began enjoying very well after that [first set].”
After an error-strewn opening set through which he hit 17 unforced errors, Korda took management of the match within the second set. He swung the momentum with a gutsy break at 3-2, preventing again from 40/0 on Ruud’s serve. He claimed one other break within the eighth recreation, clinching the set emphatically with a forehand return winner. Within the third set, he secured an early break with a surprising volley and completed having gained 24 of 29 factors on the internet. The 25-year-old fired 10 aces and gained 72 per cent (34/47) of his first-serve factors in keeping with ATP Infosys Stats.
The American will face third seed Flavio Cobolli for a spot within the ultimate. Cobolli defeated Coleman Wong 7-5, 6-7(7), 6-2 in two hours and 14 minutes to disclaim the 21-year-old his first tour-level semi-final.
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