Tommy Paul defies Disciple Tien, reaches finals in Delray Beach | ATP Tour

Delray Beach

Paul defies Tien, reaches the finals in Delray Beach

The 28-year-old saved six break points; meets Korda in the final

February 22, 2026

Tommy Paul defeated Student Tien in the All-American semifinals on Saturday at the Delray Beach Open to continue his quest for a fifth ATP Tour title. Paul, eight years older than Tien, defeated the lefty 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

In a high-quality draw, Paul showed superior court and took control of extended rallies, highlighted by an 18-shot exchange win to earn a set point in the second set.

The 28-year-old took off from there, racing to a 3-0 lead in the final. Paul survived a 10-minute service hold at 3-1, saving four break points in that game. He blocked another break point at 4-2, finished the point at the net, and earned the semi-final when they faced a break point at 5-3. Paul saved six break points in the third set, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to reach the Delray Beach final for the second time (2024).

“Obviously she was playing amazing tennis in the first set,” Paul said of Tien. “I was finding it difficult to stay with him. I felt like he was doing everything better than me, but I knew I had to mix things up and try to change the rhythm – find the net a little bit, split it up a little bit.

“It’s the second final here in Delray, so I’m really excited for tomorrow’s game.”

With his victory that lasted two hours, 14 minutes, Paul ended his five-match streak in tour-level semifinals since winning the ATP 250 in Stockholm in 2024.

Paul entered the week at No. 24 in the PIF ATP Rankings, just one spot below Tien, who he was facing for the first time. He will next look to improve his Lexus ATP Head2Head record of 2-4 against countryman Sebastian Korda.

The 25-year-old Korda reached his first ATP Tour final in more than a year defeating third-seeded Flavio Cobolli 7-6(1), 6-1. Korda hit 12 aces and won 82 percent of her points in the second game to avoid trouble in Italy. He did not face a break point in this game that lasted 76 minutes.

“I think it was a very good game. I think I worked very well. I haven’t had many pressure situations in my career, and that opens up advantages,” said Korda. “I think I played a good tie-breaker, and after that, I started to feel the ball better, I came back better and put pressure on him.”

The Delray Beach ATP 250 event has been an exciting hunting ground for Korda, who now owns a 10-2 tournament record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. The American made the final in 2021, going down to Hubert Hurkacz. Korda will try to advance to the American final.

“That’s where you want to be, especially here in the States,” Korda said. “He wants this American final, and it’s going to be an American final, so it’s going to be really fun.”