Korda clinical in Delray semifinal against Cobolli to guarantee all-American final
Sebastian Korda beat Flavio Cobolli 7-6 (1), 6-1 on Saturday. He’ll face the winner of the match between No 5 seed Tommy Paul and No 4 seed Learner Tien in the final
Sebastien Korda, 2026 | © Imago / PsNewz
Sebastian Korda moved within one win of his first title of the season on Saturday evening, defeating third seed Flavio Cobolli 7-6(1), 6-1 to reach the final of the Delray Beach Open.
The 25-year-old American, currently ranked No. 50, produced a poised performance to return to the Delray championship match for the first time since 2021. After a tightly contested opening set that saw both players trade heavy baseline blows, Korda took total control in the tiebreak, surrendering only a single point.
He carried that momentum into the second set, breaking the world No. 20 twice and winning 20 of his 25 service points to close out the match in 88 minutes.
Paul or Tien in the final
Korda’s run in Florida has been a masterclass in resilience. Earlier in the week, he notched a statement win by rallying from a set down to eliminate second seed Casper Ruud. He also navigated tricky encounters against fellow Americans Alex Michelsen and Mackenzie McDonald. For Cobolli, the loss ends a resurgent week where the Italian reached his first semifinal of the year following victories over Coleman Wong and Terence Atmane.
With Korda’s victory, the Delray Beach Open is guaranteed an all-American champion. He will face either fifth seed Tommy Paul or fourth seed Learner Tien, who are scheduled to meet in the second semifinal later tonight.
The dominance of the home favorites has been the story of the tournament; after world No. 8 Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe were ousted in the quarterfinals, the younger American contingent stepped up to ensure the trophy remains on U.S. soil.
Korda, who trains extensively in Florida, will be seeking his second career ATP title on Sunday. His clinical form at the net and improved first-serve percentage make him a formidable threat regardless of which compatriot joins him in the final.
