Fritz beats Paul to go back-to-back in Delray Beach

Neither the rain delay nor the reign delay at the Delray Beach Open lasted very long.

About 21 hours after they had been scheduled for an all-American final in Florida, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul took the court on a much sunnier–but windy–afternoon on on Monday. It was Fritz who emerged victorious, successfully defending his 2023 Delray Beach title with a 6-2, 6-3 win.

The world No. 10 is now 8-0 at this event over the past two years, with only one set lost during this dominant stretch in Delray.

However, it wasn’t as easy on Monday as the scoreline suggests. The match lasted an hour and 40 minutes and Paul actually had more break points than his opponent. Fritz, though, was far better in the biggest moments. The top seed saved all seven of the break points he faced while converting three of his five opportunities.

“He won the break points and I didn’t win the break points,” Paul stated. “That was pretty much the difference. I think I came out with maybe a little too much energy inside and not letting it out. So it maybe looked like I was a little flat, but I definitely wasn’t on the inside.”

It is Fritz’s seventh ATP title and he is now 6-0 in his last six finals. Paul was bidding for his second winner’s trophy in as many weeks, having previously triumphed on the indoor hard courts of Dallas.

“I think there were some questions about how I was physically feeling (before the tournament,” Fritz commented. “I didn’t play one of the rubbers at Davis Cup. I wasn’t feeling amazing after Australia, so it’s great to come here and feel like I’m moving and physically I’m definitely there and can keep playing.

“Mentally, it was tough conditions–especially today. I kind of just powered through it. All the pressure was on me this week defending the title and I was able to get through it.”

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