Three Americans have made it to the Delray Beach semifinals, resulting in an all-Team USA showdown between Learner Tien and Tommy Paul. Sebastian Korda will battle Flavio Cobolli for a place in the title match.
(5) Tommy Paul vs. (4) Learner Tien
In 2025, Tien needed a wild card to gain entry into the Delray Beach Open. Twelve months later (despite a much stronger field this year), he is the No. 4 seed and his tournament began in the second round on the heels of a first-round bye. Although Tien is among the title favorites this time around, he certainly took the scenic route to the semifinals. The world No. 23 outlasted defending champion Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-6(5) and then came back from 4-2 down in the third set to beat Frances Tiafoe 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-5 on Friday night.
Up next for Tien on semifinal Saturday is a first-ever meeting with Paul, who is in resurgent form following an injury-plagued 2025 campaign. The 24th-ranked American has already won 10 matches this season, including a semifinal showing in Adelaide, a fourth-round performance at the Australian Open (lost to Carlos Alcaraz), and now a semifinal appearance in Delray Beach. So far this week he has ousted Corentin Moutet, Adam Walton, and Taylor Fritz — the latter in convincing 6-4, 6-3 fashion. Even though these are two Americans, this is a home match for Paul — a Boca Raton resident. His level has been even better than Tien’s this week and he has far more experience at the business end of ATP tournaments, so Paul should have the edge.
Pick: Paul in 3
(3) Flavio Cobolli vs. Sebastian Korda
Both Cobolli and Korda admitted earlier this week that they were in dark places upon arriving in Delray Beach. Cobolli had been on a four-match losing streak with losses to three opponents ranked outside the top 100. Korda fell to world No. 174 Michael Zheng in round one of the Australian Open and then got upset by world No. 143 Zachary Svajda in the final of a Challenger tournament. The 25-year-old played better in Dallas but saw a big opportunity go by the wayside in a third-set tiebreaker setback against Fritz in the quarterfinals.
Despite all of that, either Cobolli or Korda will play for the Delray Beach title on Sunday after they go head-to-head for the third time in their careers. Both of their previous meetings have gone Korda’s way; 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-4 at the 2024 Rome Masters and 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 a few months later in the Washington, D.C. final. The 50th-ranked American should be in line for more success on Saturday. He was already winning considerably more matches than Cobolli prior to this week and his form against Alex Michelsen and Casper Ruud in the second round and quarters, respectively, was especially impressive.
Pick: Korda in 2