Tommy Paul Survives Epic Opener, Finally Converts 11th Match Point in Delray Beach
Fifth seed Tommy Paul scraped through a dramatic opening-round match at Delray Beach on Feb. 18, 2026 (ET), ultimately converting his 11th match point to defeat Corentin Moutet.
Tommy Paul scrambles through opener, converts 11th match point
In a match that stretched two hours and 30 minutes, Tommy Paul dropped the first set 4-6 before rallying to win 6-3, 6-4. The victory was far from straightforward: Paul faced repeated resistance from the tricky French left-hander and needed 11 match points to close out the contest. Ten of those opportunities slipped away when Paul attempted to seal the win at 5-3 in the final set; he ultimately prevailed two games later to seal the comeback.
Paul was blunt about his on-court feel after the match, saying, “I don’t feel like I was feeling the ball amazing today, but I think I competed very well. Obviously losing that game at 5-3 in the third sucked, but I had to bounce back and it’s all about serving that last game out, right?” The comment underscored both the physical grind of the match and the mental resilience Paul showed to finish it off.
The scoreline and the lengthy conversion process underline how thin the margins were in the opener. Despite an uneven service day and the lost opportunity at 5-3, Paul managed to regroup and serve out the match, avoiding an upset and advancing in the ATP 250 event.
Tournament ripple effects: Adam Walton advances, other seeds move on
The same day featured other developments that reshaped the Delray Beach draw. Lucky loser Adam Walton picked up a straight-sets win over a big-serving opponent, eliminating Gabriel Diallo 7-6, 6-3 to move through the early stages. Walton’s progress adds an unpredictable element to the field; there is growing attention on matchups and predictions involving Walton and higher seeds.
Beyond Walton’s win, the day produced notable outcomes for several seeded players. A 19-year-old Spaniard, Roland Jodar, announced himself with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Ethan Quinn and will next face the tournament’s top seed. Seventh seed Brandon Nakashima also survived a stern test, defeating Marin Cilic 7-6, 7-6 in a match that featured heavy serving and no break-point chances. Defending champion Miomir Kecmanovic advanced with a 6-1, 6-4 victory as well, while two all-American clashes saw Sebastian Korda and Zachary Svajdo both move on with straight-sets wins.
These results help frame the path forward in Delray Beach: seasoned seeds who navigated their openers remain in the mix, while emerging names and lucky losers have injected unpredictability into the draw. For fans and analysts focused on potential matchups, Adam Walton’s upset-style run and Tommy Paul’s narrow escape are both storylines likely to draw attention in the tournament’s next rounds.
For Tommy Paul, the opener will be remembered less for fluency and more for character. Converting the 11th match point after a tense finish offered a clear moment of relief and a valuable, if hard-fought, first step in the event. Walton’s advance and the string of competitive results across the draw ensure Delray Beach remains a stage for surprise outcomes as the tournament progresses.
