FORMER WORLD NO.4 JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO WILL PLAY IN DELRAY BEACH
The 2009 US Open Champion Will Begin His Comeback From Wrist Injury
DELRAY BEACH: 2011 Delray Beach champion Juan Martin del Potro is taking a wild card into the Delray Beach Open, making his second appearance in the ATP World Tour event. The 10-day event is coming up February 12 – 21, with ATP World Tour play scheduled to begin Monday, February 15 at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center.
Del Potro will be making a long-awaited comeback from a bothersome wrist injury that has dogged the former world No. 4 and 2009 US Open champion for much of his career.
In 2011, del Potro made his initial appearance in Delray Beach ranked No. 166 with just four tournaments under his belt following his first wrist surgery. He won the title without dropping a set, defeating Janko Tipsarevic for his then-8th career ATP World title.
“We’ve been expecting this call,” said Delray Beach Open tournament director Mark Baron. “Juan Martin has always had Delray Beach in his comeback plans, and we’re happy to know that it’s come to fruition. We are rooting for him to be able to overcome his injury and hope he will have a successful comeback.”
The 27-year-old Argentine has amassed 18 career ATP titles plus his Grand Slam US Open win, and has four Top 10 year-end finishes: 2008 (No. 9), 2009 (No 5), 2012 (No. 7) and 2013 (No. 5). He reached his career-high No 4 on January 11, 2010.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” said del Potro via a U-Tube video. “As I had promised that I would make a comeback around January or February, now I can confirm it will happen at Delray Beach. I wanted to share the news and also the happiness that I feel knowing that I will play a tennis tournament after such a long time.”
Del Potro’s appearance in Delray Beach’s 32-player singles draw gives the tournament four former champions, including defending champion Ivo Karlovic, Kevin Anderson (2012) and Tommy Haas (2006). Additionally, the Bryan Brothers are defending doubles champions and will be chasing their third consecutive title.
The 2016 Delray Beach field already features three Top 20 players including 2016 Australian Open semifinalist Milos Raonic (No. 11), Anderson (No. 14) and Bernard Tomic (No. 20). Karlovic (No. 24) and Grigor Dimitrov (No. 28) also figure into the strong draw.
In addition to the ATP World Tour tournament, the first weekend of the Delray Beach Open includes an ATP Champions Tour event featuring six former stars playing in a Team USA vs Team International format.
Tickets are available at yellowtennisball.com/tickets or can be secured from the on-site box office (30 NW 1st Avenue in Delray Beach) or over the phone (561-330-6000 ext.1).
UPDATED 2016 DELRAY BEACH OPEN SINGLES ENTRY LIST: Kevin Anderson (RSA), Benjamin Becker (GER), Ricardas Berankis (LTU), Jeremy Chardy (FRA),Thiemo de Bakker (NED), Juan Martin del Potro (ARG), Grigor Dimitrov (BUL), Damir Dzumhur (BIH), Kyle Edmund (GBR), Marcel Granollers (ESP), Sam Groth (AUS), Tommy Haas (GER/USA), Steve Johnson (USA), Ivo Karlovic (CRO), Denis Kudla (USA), Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ), Adrian Mannarino (FRA), Illya Marchenko (UKR), John Millman (AUS), Sam Querrey (USA), Rajeev Ram (USA),Milos Raonic (CAN), Dudi Sela (ISR), Bernard Tomic (AUS), Donald Young (USA)
For more information: Go to YellowTennisBall.com.
About The Delray Beach Open: The only tournament in the world featuring an ATP Champions Tour event and an ATP World Tour event in the same week at the same venue is held in Delray Beach, Florida February 12-21 at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center. The ATP World Tour’s first North American hard court event of the outdoor season is one of just 10 ATP World Tour events in the United States. In 2016 it will be celebrating its 24th year overall and 18th in Delray Beach. The ATP Champions Tour event is in its 7th year and was the first-ever event played on US soil. Each year the Delray Beach Open brings world-class tennis players and thousands of visitors to Delray Beach and Palm Beach County. In 2010, the tournament received the Discover The Palm Beaches Florida’s annual Providencia Award for its extraordinary contribution to tourism. The City of Delray Beach was also a finalist for the USTA’s “Best Tennis Town” Award and in 2003, the tournament was the recipient of an “ATP Award of Excellence.” For more information please visit www.YellowTennisBall.com.
About ATP: The ATP is the governing body of the men’s professional tennis circuits – the ATP World Tour, the ATP Challenger Tour and the ATP Champions Tour. With 62 tournaments in 31 countries, the ATP World Tour showcases the finest male athletes competing in the world’s most exciting venues. From Australia to Europe and the Americas to Asia, the stars of the 2015 ATP World Tour battle for prestigious titles and Emirates ATP Ranking Points at ATP World Tour events (including Master Series 1000, 500 and 250 events), as well as Grand Slams (non ATP events). The ATP Champions Tour brings together many of the greatest tennis players in history for nostalgic, competitive and entertaining tournaments around the world. Players are either formerly ranked No. 1 in the world in singles, a Grand Slam singles champion or finalist, or a singles player on a winning Davis Cup team. Players must be retired from ATP World Tour competition and each event can invite wild card entrants of its choice.
About The City of Delray Beach: In the southeast corner of Palm Beach County on the Atlantic seashore, a Village by the Sea that began as an agricultural community in 1895 has become one of Florida’s most popular destinations for visitors, new families and seasonal residents. The City of Delray Beach encompasses slightly over 16 square miles with a permanent population of nearly 65,000 and growing. Renewal and re-development efforts have resulted in recognition as the All-America City in 1993 and 2001, the Blue Wave designation for clean and beautiful beaches, and hailed by city planners around the nation as a model for growth management. In 2012 during the nationally televised “Best of the Road” special, Delray Beach was chosen by Rand McNally, USA Today and the Travel Channel as the “Most Fun Small Town” in America. In 2014, USA Today also named it as one of the “Best Atlantic Beaches in Florida.”
Scoop Malinowski · February 3, 2016 at 4:58 pm
Did you see Tiafoe’s fake on set point to beat Groth? It’s hilarious https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfH6_A-NWD4
Scoop Malinowski · February 3, 2016 at 4:59 pm
Also Sasha Zverev beat Cilic today in France 76 76 – best win by any ATP teen yet –
Jg · February 3, 2016 at 6:18 pm
Did you see the guy Tiafoe played today, Tiafoe won but that guy had won a local pre qualifying event to get into qualifying, then won all 3 matches in qualifying, then his first round in the main draw, all without losing a set. He could definitely play, amazing how many good players are out there, he is ranked like 1600.
Harold · February 11, 2016 at 2:53 pm
Milos R pulled out of Delray. Knee injury. Wonder if he pulls out of celebrity NBA game?
Bryan · February 13, 2016 at 1:30 pm
Stoked Del Potro is back. Can’t get too optimistic given his two wrist surgeries. We’ll have to be patient as the main thing is his health and hope he doesn’t break down.
BTW I recall Scoop claiming Tommy Haas has ‘dead arm’ awhile back when he was out injured. He came back but is a shell of himself. His serve is weak and his forehand strokes tepid. No racquet speed left.
Bryan · February 13, 2016 at 1:33 pm
“Milos R pulled out of Delray. Knee injury. Wonder if he pulls out of celebrity NBA game?”
Nope. He dunked last night too. So much more the knee injury. Guys pull out injured to conserve themselves for the long season. yet when it’s time to schedule tournaments and collect appearance fees they always overbook. Bad problem in tennis as this denies young low ranked players their opportunities.
Scoop Malinowski · February 13, 2016 at 4:51 pm
Bryan – I got the inside word from a German semi close with the Haas family and he said Haas has major shoulder issues – But you know Haas – he’s not a quitter and still hungers to play – it seems he will play as long as is humanly possible – as long as his body permits – this could be the last year if he can’t get his ranking up – who knows if he will be able to stay healthy –
Scoop Malinowski · February 13, 2016 at 4:54 pm
I guess the Raonic withdrawal opens the door for someone – player late withdrawals are and always will be a part of smaller event tennis – happens every year – Raonic is on the brink of major semis and major finals – I suspect he is now struggling to get properly motivated for the smaller events – this is what happens when the good players become elite players and Raonic is now an ATP elite –
Harold · February 13, 2016 at 10:02 pm
How can you pull out of a Tennis tournament, with a knee injury, then run up and down a fullcourt basketball court. Didnt see if he was coasting, or trying. Saw Bouchard for a second, she was clueless about BBall.
Maybe after his Aussie showing, Raonic perps thougt they deserved a better appearance fee? Just saying. I’m sure guys have pulled out of tournaments trying to hold up promoters for bigger fees, especially the hot player
Scoop Malinowski · February 14, 2016 at 8:52 am
Rising young stars have the power to do things like this Harold – Tennis is a star driven sport –