Paul ousts prime seed Fritz in Delray Seaside, to face 'undoubtedly considered one of finest gamers on the earth'

Delray Seaside

Paul ousts prime seed Fritz in Delray Seaside, to face ‘undoubtedly considered one of finest gamers on the earth’

Tien rallies towards Tiafoe, Korda upsets Ruud

February 21, 2026

Two years in the past, Taylor Fritz cruised previous shut pal Tommy Paul within the Delray Seaside Open closing. Paul served his fellow American revenge Friday night on the identical courtroom.

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 really on this courtroom, so it’s cool to play quarter-hour from house towards considered one of my closest associates, longtime associates,” Paul mentioned in his on-court interview. “I heard plenty of American tennis chants in the present day and I promise we love that stuff and we’re attempting actually onerous for you guys.”

Paul has recognized Fritz since they had been juniors, gained a bronze medal along with his countryman on the 2024 Paris Olympics in males’s doubles and now’s degree with him of their Lexus ATP Head2Head collection at 3-3 because of a clear efficiency in Florida.

“When it comes to the match, I believed I moved rather well. I believed I served rather well on the tight factors,” Paul mentioned. “Often when you maintain serve, you’ll be within the match and I discovered the way in which on some massive break factors and I used to be actually pleased with how I performed in the present day.”

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 prior to now 12 months or so. He’s undoubtedly top-of-the-line gamers on the earth now,” Paul mentioned. “He’s an thrilling participant to look at. 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 the whole lot I can to prepare for that match.”

Sebastian Korda held his nerve on Saturday on the Delray Seaside 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 event since 2021.

“I attempted battling as a lot as I may,” Korda mentioned. “Fortunately, I discovered some type and began taking part in rather well after that [first set].”

After an error-strewn opening set wherein 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, combating 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 accordance with ATP Infosys Stats.

The American will face third seed Flavio Cobolli for a spot within the closing. 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.