Korda Blasts Past Ruud into Delray Beach Semis, Tien defeats Tiafoe

There are moments, when Sebastian Korda is in perfect form and fitness, where it is difficult to understand why he has never been inside the ATP’s Top-10. Streamlined, efficient, powerful and relentless, he has all the trappings of an elite force on the tour, and fans in Delray Beach saw that version of the Floridian on Friday as he turned around a one-set deficit to hammer past No.2-seeded Casper Ruud, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.

“It was not a great start for me, but I kept it together,” Korda said, after reeling off 12 of the final 16 games. “Luckily I found some form and I started playing really well after that.”

Korda, ranked No.50, earned his first victory over the three-time major finalist to take his place in the semifials along Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, who took out Coleman Wong 7-5, 6-7(7), 6-2 in Friday’s first quarterfinal.

The American is currently working with new coach Ryan Harrison, and he gave credit to the former World No.40 for keeping him inspired.

“I’m having a ton of fun with Ryan, we’re keeping it pretty light, that’s what I need, a lot of positivity and a lot of hunger,” he said.

Korda was hungry to get to the net agaist Ruud and he did so with precision, winning 24 of 29 at net. Notably he also hit 22 forehand winners to 12 for Ruud, and 13 backhand winners to zero for the Norwegian.

From 2-2 in the second set Korda took over, breaking Ruud in four of the Norwegian’s last six service games.

Three of the four Delray Beach semifinalists are Americans, as two all-American semifinals took place on Friday evening.

Top-seeded Taylor Fritz was defeated by No.5-seeded Tommy Paul, 6-4, 6-3 in just 76 minutes, while 8th-seeded Frances Tiafoe fell to No.4 seed Learner Tien. Tien rallied from a rallied from a break down in the third set to take out 2018 Delray Beach champion Frances Tiafoe, 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-5

Paul had high praise for Tien as he looked ahead to his first battle against the 20-year-old Southern Californian.

“He’s obviously really turned it on in the past year or so. He’s undoubtedly one of the best players in the world now,” Paul, who will bid for his eighth ATP final appearance, said. “He’s an exciting player to watch. I haven’t played him yet, so we’ll see how he is to play, I’m sure it’s not going to be easy.

Learner Tien’s Previous ATP Semifinal Experience

Korda, who played the Delray Beach final in 2021 (l. to Hubert Hurkacz) is into his 20th ATP semifinal and he improved to 9-2 lifetime at Delray Beach with the win.

Ruud was playing in his first event after becoming a father. He and his fiance Maria welcomed their first child, daughter in late January. He was making his Delray Beach Open debut, and was bidding to become the first Norwegian semifinalist at the event.