Americans Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe will try to secure semifinal spots in Delray Beach on Friday. However, they could have their hands full with Jordan Thompson and Flavio Cobolli, respectively, during quarterfinal action.
Jordan Thompson vs. (3) Tommy Paul
Paul is in fine form heading into the Delray Beach Open quarterfinals and ultimately into the Sunshine Double (Indian Wells and Miami), but there is some cause for concern on Friday. The 14th-ranked American is making a quick turnaround after winning the Dallas title last week and he had to come back from 3-1 down in the final set against Alex Michelsen to prevail 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(4) on Thursday. Paul dealt with an apparent back injury in that match, so he is a major question mark for the quarterfinals.
Up next for Paul is Thompson, who won their only previous meeting 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 at the 2019 ‘s-Hertogenbosch event. The 42nd-ranked Australian is also playing well, with a semifinal showing in Brisbane (beat Rafael Nadal), a quarterfinal performance in Dallas, and now a quarterfinal effort in Delray Beach with straight-set victories over Dan Evans and Nicolas Moreno de Alboran. With Paul fatigued (and potentially even injured), this is a great opportunity for Thompson to pull off an upset.
Pick: Thompson in 3
(LL) Flavio Cobolli vs. (2) Frances Tiafoe
Tiafoe lost his second match at each of his first three tournaments in 2023, so he hopes that trend comes to an end against Cobolli on Friday. The 15th-ranked American fell to Jerry Shang in Hong Kong, Tomas Machac at the Aussie Open, and Marcos Giron in Dallas. Tiafoe came somewhat close to exiting Delray Beach right away on Thursday night, but he managed to scrape past Radu Albot 7-6(5), 7-6(4).
Cobolli, on the other hand, is playing the best tennis of his young career. The 21-year-old Italian reached the third round at Melbourne Park as a qualifier and is coming off a quarterfinal result in Montpellier. Cobolli needed a lucky-loser spot in Delray Beach, but he has made the most of it by beating Taro Daniel and Zachary Svajda. Tiafoe is wildly out of sorts right now, so don’t be surprised if Cobolli continues his hot streak.
Pick: Cobolli in 3
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