Korda wins all-American duel, claims Delray Seaside crown

Delray Seaside

Korda wins all-American duel, claims Delray Seaside crown

The 25-year-old ousted three of the highest 5 seeds en path to title

February 22, 2026

Sebastian Korda earned his third ATP Tour title on Sunday on the Delray Seaside Open, the place he defeated fifth-seeded countryman Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3 within the closing.

A 2021 finalist in Delray Seaside, Korda went one step additional to grow to be the ninth American champion on the occasion. Due to his title run, the 25-year-old is as much as No. 40 within the PIF ATP Reside Rankings.

“[It means] quite a bit. I’ve been via some stuff the previous couple of months, years,” Korda stated. “I’ve misplaced a variety of finals and now to get one right here in Delray — that is the place I made my first ATP closing — so it’s like a full-circle day. I’m simply blissful.”

Stateside famous person Sebi 🇺🇸💪@SebiKorda clinches title No.3 on residence courts at Delray Seaside!#DBOpen pic.twitter.com/afCR0pUHHT

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 22, 2026

In blustery afternoon circumstances, Korda remained tight to the baseline and dictated play with assured ball-striking. He earned a decisive break at 5-4 within the opening set and held his floor on serve, profitable 83 per cent of his first-serve factors, based on Infosys ATP Stats. Korda courageously dug out of a 0/40 gap when serving for the match, saving a fourth break level later that sport and ultimately clinching the title after one hour, 22 minutes.

“It was tough. We have been each struggling on the market, it was tremendous windy,” Korda stated. “I used to be simply attempting to place the ball within the court docket. I used to be born and raised in Florida, so I’m used to the wind a bit bit, however this was excessive for certain.”

Korda ousted three of the highest 5 seeds this week, together with second seed Casper Ruud within the quarter-finals and third seed Flavio Cobolli within the semi-finals.

Within the second all-American closing this season (Dallas), Korda improved to 5-2 in opposition to Paul of their Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence. Sunday marked their first assembly in 20 months (2024 Queen’s Membership). Paul, 28, was aiming for his fifth ATP Tour trophy.

Korda didn’t play between Roland Garros and Winston-Salem final 12 months whereas he recovered from a stress fracture in his proper shin, main him to make use of a boot and crutches.