Korda Conquers Paul in Gusty Delray Final
Sebastian Korda turned swirling winds into his edge, outlasting fellow American Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3 to seize the Delray Beach Open title and cap a resilient comeback on home soil.
Under a whipping Florida breeze, Sebastian Korda seized control in the Delray Beach Open final, toppling countryman Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3 to claim his third ATP Tour crown. The 25-year-old’s straight-sets victory marked a breakthrough after years of close calls, vaulting him to No. 40 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. This all-American clash, the second of the season after Dallas, echoed Korda’s growth from his 2021 runner-up finish here, now etched as the ninth American champion at the event.
Korda’s path this week dismantled top seeds, including Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals and Flavio Cobolli in the semis, showcasing his sharpened baseline game. He hugged the court’s edge, unleashing heavy topspin forehands crosscourt to stretch rallies and force errors from Paul’s flatter strikes. The wind turned every shot into a gamble, but Korda’s deeper returns and varied angles kept him ahead, converting a pivotal break at 5-4 in the first set while holding 83 percent of his first-serve points.
“[It means] a lot. I’ve been through some stuff the past couple of months, years,” Korda said. “I’ve lost a lot of finals and now to get one here in Delray — this is where I made my first ATP final — so it’s like a full-circle day. I’m just happy.”
Stateside superstar Sebi 🇺🇸@SebiKorda clinches title No.3 on home courts at Delray Beach!#DBOpen pic.twitter.com/afCR0pUHHT
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 22, 2026
Wind disrupts rhythmic exchanges
The afternoon gusts at the Delray Beach Open twisted trajectories, challenging both players’ footing and forcing shorter swings on serves. Korda, raised in Florida, adapted by tightening his grip on the racket for control, mixing inside-out forehands with low slice backhands that skidded through the air. Paul, the fifth seed chasing his fifth ATP title, faltered in the chaos, his down-the-line backhands veering wide as Korda pressed with a one–two pattern—serve followed by aggressive forehand approaches.
In the second set, tension peaked when Korda served for the match at 5-3, digging out of a 0/40 hole to save four break points, including one with a timely ace. The 28-year-old Paul fought back with penetrating returns, but Korda’s poise held, sealing the one-hour, 22-minute battle on an unforced error from his opponent. This head-to-head win improved Korda’s edge to 5-2 over Paul, their first meeting in 20 months since 2024 Queen’s Club.
“It was tricky. We were both struggling out there, it was super windy,” Korda said. “I was just trying to put the ball in the court. I was born and raised in Florida, so I’m used to the wind a little bit, but this was extreme for sure.”
Injury shadows yield to resurgence
Korda’s triumph carried deeper weight, emerging from a stress fracture in his right shin that sidelined him between Roland Garros and Winston-Salem last year, confining him to a boot and crutches. That layoff tested his resolve through lost finals, but this Delray run rebuilt momentum, blending physical recovery with tactical evolution on the medium-paced hard courts. The crowd’s energy surged with each point, their cheers slicing through the breeze as Korda converted match point with a crisp down-the-line backhand.
Now, with @SebiKorda lifting the trophy amid #DBOpen celebrations on February 22, 2026, via pic.twitter.com/afCR0pUHHT, the moment signals a shifting American presence on tour. Korda’s blend of power, precision, and mental grit positions him for bolder pursuits in the hard-court season ahead, where past setbacks fuel sharper edges against rising competition.
