DELRAY BEACH — Tommy Paul had his “Founding Fathers’ fan club. Sebastian Korda had Florida Panthers superstar Aleksander Barkov.

Score one for hockey in an All-American Delray Beach Open final as Korda topped Paul, 6-4, 6-3 before 4,774 fans on Feb. 22 at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.

Korda, who grew up in Bradenton as son of tour great Petr, won his first Delray Beach Open title and flopped onto his back after winning match point in an epic game in which he trailed love-40 on his serve.

Entering the tournament unseeded and his ranking falling to 50 after a tough start to 2026, Korda, 25, was the better man in windswept conditions. He’s the sixth unseeded player to win the 34-year event.

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“It’s amazing, especially with how everything was going on,’’ Korda said. “Crazy wind. Last game was love-40 down and somehow I came back and got some good serves in, trusted it and went after it. It‘s as satisfying as it can get winning a tournament when love-40 down. A lot of hard work mentally.’’

Barkov was in Korda’s player’s box. Of Czech Republic heritage, Korda played hockey until he was 11 and befriended Barkov, who is Swiss, when he first played Delray in 2021.

“(Barkov) watches more tennis than anyone on planet Earth,’’ Korda said after winning the ATP 250 event in one hour, 22 minutes. ““He’ll watch everything.  He was here every single match and all my practices. He texts me all the time. I got to know him in 2021 when I played here. He’s been a great friend of mine. I want to get on the ice with him.’’

Paul, who lives in Boca Raton, still can’t find the whole answer at Delray as he has failed to win the tournament in six tries. But this was one was special, made so by “The Founding Fathers’’ – a group of three high school seniors from Donna Klein High in Boca Raton. Matthew, Alex, Chad cheered, chanted and sang during all of Paul’s matches.

The threesome led the rest of the crowd into a Paul chorus often – the one ditty heard aplenty (“You say Tommy, I say Paul. Tommy … Paul. Tommy … Paul”).

During the trophy presentation, Paul saluted the trio, who dress in Colonial-Era garb.

“They came out to every match no matter what and brought the energy,’’ said Paul, who was seeded 4^th

Two years ago, Paul, 28,  lost in the Delray final to his buddy Taylor Fritz. Paul looked more lost Sunday in the wind, often showing frustration when one of his lobs would sail many yards out due to a sudden current. When he got broken at 4-5 to give Korda the first set, the winds had picked up noticeably during that game. Bad timing.

“He handled the conditions better today and deserved to win,’’ Paul said. ”I’m pissed off for sure.  I didn’t want that (second-place) trophy again. I thought I was playing really good tennis up to this last mach. I didn’t think I played great but started getting momentum late. He served his way out of trouble down love-40.’’

At that juncture, with nerves of steel, Korda pounded in a couple of aces, Paul flubbed one easy forehand off his frame and cracked a few others long. In general,  Korda guided the ball precisely into play with more finesse amid the South Florida gusts.

“The secret is growing up in Florida,’’ said Korda, whose father rose to No. 2 in the world. “This is where I’ve played in my whole life – super windy. My dad said growing up to just put the ball in the court somehow. It doesn’t matter if it’s a slice or ugliest shot in the world. As long as it goes to the other side of the island, it’s all that matters.’’

Korda, who upset No. 2 seed Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals, fell behind a break to start the second set. Paul pounced on Korda, breaking him immediately after winning a 30-shot rally with a crosscourt forehand winner.

But Korda broke right back and did so again for a 3-1 lead. The Bradenton resident got up 4-1 and withheld Paul’s furious rally in the last game that could’ve put the second set on serve.

Asked if he was ticked off at himself or the wind, Paul said, “I can’t be pissed at Mother Nature.’’

Paul had beaten upstart American Learner Tien in the Feb. 21 semifinals – a player that some feel has the tennis smarts to make it big with his lefty forehand.

“Tien’s amazing,’’ Paul said. “This younger generation of Americans, they don’t fear anything or us at all. It’s a great thing for them. Annoying for us. They came out ready to beat us everytime. They’re serious players.’’

Korda hadn’t won an ATP event since the 2024 Washington D.C. tournament that is a tuneup for the U.S. Open. Korda lost in the finals here in 2021. “My confidence is definitely going up,’’ Korda said. “It’s about being consistent. Years past, I haven’t been very consistent.’’

Said Paul, “He’s dealt with a lot of injuries and setbacks. It’s good to see him at this level.’’

Delray Beach Open future uncertain

This could be the second-to-last Delray tournament if things shake out a certain way.

 An ATP official last month said the goal is to downsize the 250-point ATP events with an eye on shortening the schedule. There are three 250-point ATP events in the United States – Delray Beach and ones in Houston (indoor clay court before the European clay court season in spring) and Winston Salem, N.C.

The Delray Open drew 59,366 fans this week. With a swarm of players living in South Florida, it is tough to see Delray Beach getting the axe.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Delray Beach Open goes to unseeded Sebastian Korda over Tommy Paul