Tommy Paul secured his place in the Delray Beach Open final on Saturday night, overcoming a set deficit to defeat fourth-seeded Learner Tien 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. In an intense battle between two of the tour’s most in-form Americans, the fifth-seeded Paul relied on his veteran experience to snap the winning streak of the 20-year-old rising star.
The match was a clash of styles and generations. Tien, the world No. 23, initially dominated with his left-handed precision, taking the opening set and threatening an upset. However, Paul responded by ramping up his aggression, finishing the match with 15 aces and saving seven of the eight break points he faced.
The victory marks Paul’s second career final at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center, having previously reached the title match in 2024, lost against Taylor Fritz (6-2, 6-3).
Paul : “Patient”
“He obviously played incredible tennis in the first set,” Paul said regarding Tien’s performance. “I had to stay patient and wait for my opportunities. It’s always special to perform like this in front of a home crowd.”
Paul’s road to the final has been a gauntlet of high-stakes matchups. Before stopping Tien, the world No. 24 delivered a clinical 6-4, 6-3 upset of top seed and two-time defending champion Taylor Fritz. He also navigated grueling encounters against Corentin Moutet and Adam Walton earlier in the week. Tien leaves the tournament with his head high, having already notched significant wins over Frances Tiafoe and Miomir Kecmanovic.
The championship match on Sunday will be an all-American affair, as Paul faces Sebastian Korda, who defeated Flavio Cobolli in the other semifinal. Korda leads their head-to-head series 4-2, promising a high-quality conclusion to a week dominated by the home favorites.