Korda Edges into Delray Beach Final After Year-Long Wait
Sebastian Korda outduels Flavio Cobolli in a tense semifinal, securing his first ATP final spot in over a year and priming an all-American clash on familiar Florida hard courts.
Under the steady Florida sun, Sebastian Korda broke through a season of close calls, defeating third seed Flavio Cobolli 7-6(1), 6-1 in the Delray Beach Open semifinals. The American’s serve held firm through the opener’s pressure, setting up a dominant second set that felt like a long-held breath released. This ATP 250 event, always a proving ground for him, now offers a shot at redemption.
“I think it was a great match. I think I served pretty well. I didn’t have too many pressure situations on my serve, and that opens up the returns,” Korda said. “I think I played a great tie-breaker, and then after that, I just started feeling the ball a little bit better, returning a little better and put some pressure on him.”
Tiebreak turns the tide
The first set stretched into a tiebreak where Korda’s 12 aces and 82 percent success on second serves kept Cobolli from gaining ground. He sealed it 7-1 with sharp inside-out forehands that pulled the Italian wide, avoiding any break points in the 76-minute match. That momentum shift quieted the crowd’s early tension, letting Korda dictate from the baseline.
Cobolli’s crosscourt backhands found the lines at first, but Korda’s heavy topspin returns forced errors, turning defense into opportunities. The hard courts amplified his flat serves, skidding low to disrupt rhythm. Post-tiebreak, his one–two patterns—serve into deep forehand—opened the court, exposing the seed’s movement.
Second set unleashes command
With the opener in hand, Korda ramped up his returns, breaking Cobolli early and cruising to a 6-1 finish. He mixed down-the-line shots with crosscourt angles, using underspin slices to keep the Italian off-balance on the baseline. The crowd’s cheers built as points shortened, his confidence surging with each hold.
This Delray Beach run echoes his strong history here, holding a 10-2 record per the ATP Win/Loss Index. In 2021, he reached the final only to fall to Hubert Hurkacz, a memory that fuels his drive now. Facing either Learner Tien or Tommy Paul guarantees an all-American showdown, where home support could tip the scales.
Home final fires up the chase
“That’s where you want to be, especially here in the States,” Korda said of the prospect. “You want these American finals, and it’s definitely going to be an American final, so it’s going to be exciting for sure.” The stakes extend beyond the trophy, with points boosting his rankings after a year of grinding results.
On these sun-baked hard courts, Korda’s tactical patience—blending power serves with probing returns—positions him for a breakthrough. An all-American final promises baseline battles testing endurance and precision, with the winner carrying momentum into the North American swing. As Sunday approaches, his return to form feels like the start of something bigger.
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