Delray Beach Open Final Round-Up | Sebastian Korda ends 18-month drought with straight-sets win over Tommy Paul

Sebastian Korda captured the Delray Beach title with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over fellow American Tommy Paul, ending an 18-month wait for silverware. The 25-year-old had not lifted a trophy since the 2024 DC Open, but produced one of his most controlled performances of the past two seasons to secure the third ATP title of his career.

The result carries immediate ranking implications. Korda is set to climb 10 places to world No. 40, reinforcing his position inside the top tier of the tour after a period marked by inconsistency and physical setbacks. Against the world No. 24 Paul, he relied on first-serve precision and disciplined shot selection to manage both the match and the conditions.

Wind played a consistent role throughout the final, particularly on second serves and high-toss deliveries. Both players began with strong serving numbers, but Korda adapted more effectively as the match progressed, limiting unforced errors and maintaining clarity in the decisive exchanges.

The contest was defined less by extended rallies and more by efficiency. Short points, high first-serve percentages and sharp execution at key junctures determined the outcome. In that framework, Korda proved more reliable when the scoreboard tightened.

The first set unfolded with little separation through the early games. Both Americans held comfortably, landing over 75 percent of first serves in the opening exchanges. Service dominance restricted return opportunities, and neither player faced a break point until the latter stages.

Paul, a former world No. 8, appeared settled at 4-4, having conceded minimal points behind his first serve. He had won 71 percent of first-serve points in the set and looked secure in baseline patterns. However, serving at 4-5, his level dipped under pressure. A combination of wind-affected deliveries and two untimely unforced errors handed Korda his first break opportunity of the match.

Korda capitalised immediately. With compact returns and depth off both wings, he forced Paul into a defensive position and closed the set 6-4. It was a marginal advantage in statistical terms, but decisive in context. In a set where rallies were brief and margins slim, the single break proved sufficient.

Korda’s serving numbers reinforced his control. He landed 69 percent of first serves across the match and won 79 percent of those points. His ability to protect his delivery allowed him to play with scoreboard pressure in his favour from the start of the second set.

Paul responded quickly after dropping the opener. A double fault from Korda in the first game of the second set opened the door, and Paul converted his second break opportunity with a clean cross-court forehand winner to move ahead 1-0. For a brief period, momentum shifted.

Korda’s reaction was immediate. Paul’s first-serve percentage dipped in the following game, and errors began to creep in as the wind intensified. Korda broke straight back, then applied sustained pressure to secure a third consecutive break, moving ahead 4-1. Paul’s serve, which had been stable in the first set, became vulnerable as second-serve points tilted heavily in Korda’s favour.

Statistically, Korda’s return performance in the second set proved critical. He won 67 percent of second-serve return points and converted three of six break opportunities overall. Paul, by contrast, managed just 37 percent of second-serve points won across the match, limiting his ability to control service games under pressure.

Serving at 5-3 for the championship, Korda faced his most difficult passage. He fell behind 0-40 as Paul mounted one final attempt to extend the contest. Under pressure, Korda trusted his primary strength, landing consecutive first serves and saving four break points. He closed the match on his second championship point with a controlled baseline exchange.

The final numbers reflected a measured, efficient performance. Korda struck nine aces, saved five of six break points and won 89 percent of his service games. Paul finished with five aces and saved three of six break points, but struggled to generate consistent return pressure.

For Korda, the title represents more than a ranking boost. After 18 months without a trophy, the Delray Beach victory offers tangible confirmation of progress. With a return to world No. 40 and renewed confidence in his serve under pressure, he re-enters the next phase of the season with momentum restored.