Delray Beach Open: Tommy Paul beats Ji Sung Nam in first round

U.S.'s Tommy Paul progressed to the second round with a 6-1, 6-4 defeat of South Korea's Ji Sung Nam.

Tommy Paul is seeded fifth for the Delray Beach Open. - TWITTER (@ATPChallenger)

Tommy Paul made the most of his home-court advantage on Thursday, sweeping Ji Sung Nam of South Korea 6-1, 6-4 in the first round at the Delray Beach Open.

Paul, who lives in Delray Beach, came into the tournament seeded fifth and ranked a career-high No. 52. He’s one of 13 Americans in the draw.

No. 6-seeded Sam Querrey, the 2016 champion, hit 13 aces and saved six of seven break points to beat fellow American Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 6-4. American Sebastian Korda swept Kwon Soon Woo of South Korea, 6-4, 6-4, and next plays Paul.

Gianluca Mager of Italy rallied past American Ryan Harrison 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. Thiago Monteiro beat fellow Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci 6-3, 7-5 and next faces No. 2-seeded John Isner.

The hard-court tournament was moved up to early January as part of a shuffling of the professional tennis tour schedules during the pandemic.