DELRAY BEACH, February 18, 2024
Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz will go head-to-head in the first all-US-American final at the Delray Beach Open since 2016. Paul, champion at last week’s Dallas Open, continued his fine run of form on home soil by edging out his compatriot and tournament’s No. 2 seed Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 6-2 in the stage of the last four on Saturday.
The 26-year-old New Jersey native, who lives in West Boca full time, sent down eight aces and won 81 per cent of his first-service points to succeed in 61 minutes.
👏 Back to Back Finals 👏
🇺🇸 @tommypaul1 is now on a 7-match win streak, defeating Tiafoe to reach the final in Delray Beach!#DBOpen pic.twitter.com/pLHdEQ44jU
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 17, 2024
“I feel like I came out playing really well from the jump and I was able to maintain my level throughout the whole match,” third-seeded Paul said in his on-court interview. “That’s obviously super difficult with a guy as talented as Frances is. He can change the match so quickly, so that was the goal, to keep my momentum going throughout the whole match and I think I did a pretty good job.”
World No. 14 Paul captured his second ATP Tour career title in Texas and is now seeking a personal record-breaking eighth consecutive match win on Sunday.
“Maybe [it gives me] a little more confidence to go after those shots on break point or deuce points, that always helps,” said Paul. “Confidence is huge in this sport and obviously I’m playing well right now. Today I think I played one of the best matches of the year, if not the past two years, because I didn’t miss too many balls today.”
Fritz returns to Delray Beach Open final
Later in the day and under the lights on Centre Court of the Delray Beach Tennis Complex, Fritz defeated Marcos Giron from the United States 7-6(8), 6-2. The top seed and defending champion of the ATP 250 hard-court event in Florida, who is based in Miami, capitalized on four of his 15 break-point opportunities and served the match out with his 10th ace after one hour and 47 minutes.
And there it is ⚡
Defending champ @taylor_fritz97 storms into the finals with a victory over Giron in Delray Beach!#DBOpen pic.twitter.com/B6Tcibb4Al
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 18, 2024
“I was playing well, but I missed some chances,” said Fritz. “He played a lot of good points, which was frustrating but I came back, in especially in the tie-break. I also managed to play well during the decisive points.”
Fritz is leading the head-to-head series over Paul 3-1. The World No. 9 is bidding for his seventh ATP Tour career title, his first of the season.
