16 Feb 2023 Daily Notebook – Thursday
DBO Daily Notebook – THURSDAY, FEB. 16
Top Things To Know
1) Friday is Quarterfinals Day
A breakdown of our eight quarterfinalists:
5 Americans (Taylor Fritz, Marcos Giron, Michael Mmoh, Mackenzie McDonald, Tommy Paul)
4 countries represented (US, France, Serbia, Moldova)
3 seeds (No. 1 Taylor Fritz, No. 2 Tommy Paul, No. 4 Miomir Kecmanovic)
2 NCAA singles champions (Marcos Giron, 2014, UCLA; Mackenzie McDonald, 2016, UCLA)
1 former Delray Beach Open champion (Radu Albot, 2019)
2) Past Champ Albot Playing Like It’s 2019
In his first trip back to Delray Beach since 2020, our 2019 champion Radu Albot is enjoying one of his best results since hoisting the trophy here. That year, he saved three match points in the title match to defeat Dan Evans in a third-set tiebreak. In this year’s quarterfinals he’ll face red-hot American and Delray resident Tommy Paul, who reached the semifinals at last month’s Australian Open and is at a career-high ranking of No. 18.
In his first trip back to Delray Beach since 2020, our 2019 champion Radu Albot is enjoying one of his best results since hoisting the trophy here. That year, he saved three match points in the title match to defeat Dan Evans in a third-set tiebreak. In this year’s quarterfinals he’ll face red-hot American and Delray resident Tommy Paul, who reached the semifinals at last month’s Australian Open and is at a career-high ranking of No. 18.
3) Mmoh vs. Mackie – An All-American Battle
Michael Mmoh, ranked 87, upset third seed and 27th-ranked Denis Shapovalov to reach his fourth career quarterfinal. Mmoh reached his career high of 83 last month after defeating world No. 13 Alexander Zverev to reach the Australian Open third round as a lucky loser. He is looking for his first career semifinal on the ATP Tour. In this all-American quarterfinal he faces world No. 56 Mackenzie “Mackie” McDonald, who upset fifth seed Yoshihito Nishioka. McDonald also reached the Australian Open third round when he defeated top seed Rafael Nadal.
Michael Mmoh, ranked 87, upset third seed and 27th-ranked Denis Shapovalov to reach his fourth career quarterfinal. Mmoh reached his career high of 83 last month after defeating world No. 13 Alexander Zverev to reach the Australian Open third round as a lucky loser. He is looking for his first career semifinal on the ATP Tour. In this all-American quarterfinal he faces world No. 56 Mackenzie “Mackie” McDonald, who upset fifth seed Yoshihito Nishioka. McDonald also reached the Australian Open third round when he defeated top seed Rafael Nadal.
4) Double Doubles Upsets
The second and fourth seeded doubles teams were beaten on Wednesday. Surprise Australian Open doubles champion Rinky Hijikata continues his doubles prowess, this time with partner Reese Stalderwho is playing in his first ATP Tour event. They took out former world No. 1 Jamie Murray and partner Michael Venus, both Grand Slam champions themselves. Earlier in the day, American Robert Galloway and Australian John-Patrick Smith defeated fourth seeds Julian Cash and Henry Patten, both of Great Britain.
The second and fourth seeded doubles teams were beaten on Wednesday. Surprise Australian Open doubles champion Rinky Hijikata continues his doubles prowess, this time with partner Reese Stalderwho is playing in his first ATP Tour event. They took out former world No. 1 Jamie Murray and partner Michael Venus, both Grand Slam champions themselves. Earlier in the day, American Robert Galloway and Australian John-Patrick Smith defeated fourth seeds Julian Cash and Henry Patten, both of Great Britain.
Read Thursday’s wrap-up story: https://www.atptour.com/en/news/paul-kudla-delray-beach-2023-thursday
Celebrating 25 Years in Delray Beach
In 2020, local resident and budding WTA star Coco Gauff played the first women’s exhibition in the tournament’s history against reigning NCAA champion Estela Perez-Somarriba of the University of Miamion opening weekend and sold out the stadium.
In 2020, local resident and budding WTA star Coco Gauff played the first women’s exhibition in the tournament’s history against reigning NCAA champion Estela Perez-Somarriba of the University of Miamion opening weekend and sold out the stadium.
Kids’ Tickets Half Off
Kids age 2 and under get in free. Tickets for ages 3-12 are 50% off a stadium reserved seat with the purchase of an adult ticket via phone or box office. Call 561-330-6000. Not valid for Veranda, Best or Box seats. Excludes Finals Sunday.
Kids age 2 and under get in free. Tickets for ages 3-12 are 50% off a stadium reserved seat with the purchase of an adult ticket via phone or box office. Call 561-330-6000. Not valid for Veranda, Best or Box seats. Excludes Finals Sunday.
*Official Photographers: Andrew Patron, Gina Fontana & Juarez Santos
