Right out of the starting gate in the first round of the 2018 Delray Beach Open we have the 2017 final which was never played, Jack Sock the top seed vs Milos Raonic, who defaulted the final last year because of a groin injury he said he suffered in the semis vs Del Potro.
Another prime time first rounder is Reilly Opelka vs Ryan Harrison, the winner to face the Sock-Milos winner.
Then there’s a quick rematch of this week’s New York Open battle of John Isner vs Radu Albot. Isner asked for a wildcard into Delray to try to spark his season which has so far only produced one win – versus Lajovic in Davis Cup.
Donald Young players a qualifier.
Taro Daniel plays Nick Kyrgios.
Struggling Steve Johnson takes on Niko Basilashvili.
Other first rounders: Adrian Mannarino vs Jared Donaldson. Denis Shapovalov vs Ivo Karlovic. Dudi Sela vs Mikhail Youzhny. Taylor Fritz vs Sam Querrey. Frances Tiafoe rematch Matt Ebden who crushed him in January in Brisbane.
And finally, second seed Juan Martin Del Potro will play Jim Chardy.
I mean, if that’s not the best Delray draw in Delray Beach tennis history, I don’t know what is.
I.Haychew · February 17, 2018 at 8:46 pm
Not familiar with the overall strength of past Delray Beach draws, but this looks to be a fairly competitive field. Should be an interesting tournament. I look forward to it.
Duke Carnoustie · February 18, 2018 at 12:30 am
Mannarino will reduce Donaldson to tears.
Fritz could knock off Querrey after Sam’s big NYC week.
Duke Carnoustie · February 18, 2018 at 1:16 am
Chardy really go by Jim?
Duke Carnoustie · February 18, 2018 at 1:19 am
Sandgren draws a qualifier in Rio and then either Bellucci or Fognini.
Dan Markowitz · February 18, 2018 at 4:52 am
I’ll be there on Monday though if my son beats the no. 35 player in America today (Cal, my son is ranked no. 55 in America in the Class of 2024 by tennisrecruiters.net, but the boy he’s playing, Cal Wilder, is ranked no. 35 and no. 1 in the East and has his own private coach traveling with him) in the Quarter Finals of the Super 6 in Port Washington, NY (Johnny Mac’s initial training grounds as well as the place run by Harry Hopman) and then beats the no. 34 kid in America, we’ll have to delay flight on Monday.
The big question is will we see the serious Kyrgios or the “I’m here just for fun and kicks” Kyrgios? You’d think the former as Kyrgios would still be smarting from losing in the AO in 4 sets to Dimitrov. You do have two players in the Top 10 in Delray and six players in the Top 20.
How about Kevin Anderson this week knocking off both Tiafoe and Nishikori in tight third sets. Qball v KevAnd will stage the Best Big Man in Tennis matchup in NY Open finals.
scoopmalinowski · February 18, 2018 at 4:52 am
Jim Chardy is a fact. Querrey will be up to subduing whippersnapper Fritz. Both Kozlovs lost in qualies in ss.