DELRAY BEACH — It was a battle of Boca but it wasn't a big battle.
Early in the second set, Frances Tiafoe showed his frustration at the Delray Beach Tennis Center after hitting the ball deep.
Tiafoe picked up another ball and hit it high out of the stadium and possibly onto Atlantic Avenue. It was the kind of nightmare afternoon for Tiafoe, who has been in a bit of a mess since losing in the quarterfinals of the US Open last September.
In a flawless display, rookie Tommy Paul needed just 61 minutes to beat fellow Boca Raton resident Tiafoe 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals of the Delray Beach Open, before a large crowd under the blazing sun was announced. To 4916.
Moments after Tiafoe left the field and entered the locker room, Paul said in his on-field interview:
“I think I played my best game in two years.”
And that's saying a lot since Paul, who has lived in Boca since he was 13, reached the semifinals of the 2023 Australian Open and last week won the ATP tournament in Dallas.
Fourteenth-seeded Paul extended his winning streak to seven matches and will face defending champion Taylor Fritz in the final on Sunday at 3pm, weather permitting. Fritz defeated Marcos Peron 7-6, (10-8), 6-2 in the second semi-final on Saturday evening.
Sunday's battle between No. 9 Fritz and No. 14 Paul represents the highest combined rankings for two finalists in the tournament's 32-year history. Delray's previous highest-rated final was in 2017 when Jack Sock (21) beat Milos Raonic (4).
The two finalists also live and train in South Florida, where Fritz purchased a place in Miami two years ago. Paul has lived in Boca Raton since he was 13 years old. It's also a rematch between last week's finalists in Dallas, which Paul won. Their record on the ATP Series is 2-2 but they played each other for the first time in 12 years in the 14 and under junior category.
“I’m excited,” said Fritz, who won the 2023 Delray Open over Miomir Kecmanovic. “It would be a good idea. I'm coming off the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. He just won in Dallas. I expect a fight.”
That means, if they play, with heavy rain in the forecast. According to the ticket policy, if the game is postponed until Monday, the tournament will “reasonably accommodate” those who cannot attend. Fritz traveled back and forth from Miami during the event but decided to stay at a hotel Saturday night.
“I try not to think about it when the forecast is so bad,” Fritz said. “Just in case things open up when we play, I want to be in the mindset to play.”
Earlier on Saturday, Paul served eight aces, breaking Tiafoe in the opening game of the match, committing just 14 unforced errors and converting all four break points he was given.
“I've had some good wins over the last couple of years, but overall cleanliness, I played very clean today,” Paul said in his press conference. “I didn't make mistakes or show nerves. Maybe it's not the best, but it's the cleanest.”
Paul and Tiafoe hugged at the net, and Tiafoe, who moved three years ago to Palm Beach County, whispered in his ear.
“He told me to go back. And I hope I can,” Paul said.
Delray fans were rooting for Tiafoe
The fans were on Tiafoe's side. 15yWorld-ranked Tiafoe captured the world's imagination when in 2022 he reached the semi-finals of the US Open. “Let's go Fo” and “Let's go Frances” rang out in the second set as Tiafoe tried to get into the match.
Paul wouldn't let him. Tiafoe missed a number of shots, especially on his backhand side, including match point. Other balls carried a few inches and he committed 24 unforced errors. Tiafoe knows the grounds well and uses them as a training ground; His twin, Franklin, worked there as a tennis professional.
The first set was decided at 3-1, and Tiafoe was broken after missing a shot wide. On the next point, Paul ran him over to win the rally, and then Tiafoe smashed a backhand into the net on break point. Paul had two breaks at 4-1.
In the second set, Paul Tiafoe broke in the fourth game, with the popular American receiving a penalty for mishandling the ball for hitting the ball wide of the court.
The ATP did not make Tiafoe available to the media after the match.
“I like the fact that I did really well on break points. I don't know if I was 100% or if I lost one,” Paul said.
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Paul hasn't lost anything and is now the best player on the tour. “I'm moving well now,” he said. “Some days when my backhand doesn't feel good, I can rely on my movement to stay on point and play safe balls.”
Paul is staying at his home in West Boca during the tournament, a 15-minute drive away. Fritz, who will move to ninth after this week, has been on the move longer. They are good friends but Paul does not like Fritz visiting.
“I'm trying to stay out of Miami,” Paul said.
Delray Beach is open
The singles final is at 3 p.m. on Sunday
Delray Beach Tennis Center
television: Tennis
Champion 2023: Taylor Fritz
