FEB. 14 – 23, 2020
DELRAY BEACH, FL

 

Newswire

24 Feb

Posted at 21:21h in Newswire
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By STEVE DORSEY DELRAY BEACH, Fla.—Radu Albot already is one of the most recognized athletes in his home country of Moldova in Eastern Europe. He’s going to be even more famous now. Albot became the first Moldovan to ever win an ATP Tour-level tournament Sunday when the 29-year-old defeated Daniel Evans of Great Britain 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(7) in a compelling singles final at the Delray Beach Open. “I think a lot of people were watching for sure,” Albot said. “My parents watched all my matches and they didn’t sleep for a week, so I hope they are very, very happy now.” Suffice it to say that Albot truly earned the championship trophy presented to him following the grueling three-setter that took 2 hours, 51 minutes – not including a 56-minute rain delay – to determine a winner. It was Albot’s fourth three-set victory here this week, and he rallied...

24 Feb

Posted at 16:13h in Newswire
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By STEVE DORSEY DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – As the winningest doubles tandem in ATP Tour history, the Bryan brothers have a boatload of trophies, but what they accomplished at the Delray Beach Open this week certainly ranks among their fondest memories. Bob and Mike Bryan hoisted an ATP championship trophy for a record 117th time Sunday afternoon at the Delray Beach Stadium and Tennis Center after holding off a strong challenge from another brothers team, Ken and Neal Skupski of Great Britain. The Bryans’ 7-6(5), 6-4 win gives them their fifth title in seven finals appearances in Delray Beach and their first this year since the return of Bob from hip replacement surgery he had last summer. “We’re very, very pleased with how this one’s gone,” Bob Bryan said. “Expections, I think for me have been a little lower than they have in the past. We’ve just been...

23 Feb

Posted at 23:23h in Newswire
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By STEVE DORSEY DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – There are come-from-behind wins, and then there is the stunning one that Radu Albot of Moldova orchestrated Saturday night at the ATP Tour’s Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com. Albot won 12 consecutive games after dropping the first set to defeat American Mackenzie McDonald 3-6, 6-0, 6-0 in the singles semifinals, sending Albot to his first career ATP Tour final. “I think a lot of players come back (from deficits). It’s tennis, you have to win two (sets), lose one (and) it’s a fight. This is an achievement that I’ve never done before,” Albot said following his milestone victory. Albot will face Daniel Evans of Great Britain in Sunday’s championship match at 3 p.m. EDT. It will be a matchup of two 5-foot-9 players who have made up for what they lack in height with gritty, inspired tennis this week at the...

23 Feb

Posted at 19:35h in Newswire
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By STEVE DORSEY DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – Daniel Evans does not seem to want to leave Delray Beach. He’s already been here more than a week, and he’s extended his stay here another day. The gritty Brit continued his remarkable run at the ATP Tour’s Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com on Saturday by taking down No. 2 seed and world No. 9 American John Isner 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the singles semifinals at the Delray Beach Stadium and Tennis Center. Earlier in the week, Evans also rallied from a set down to oust No. 3 seed and defending Delray champion Frances Tiafoe in the first round, a win that seemed to jumpstart his run to the finals after having to win two matches last weekend in the qualifying draw. Evans also ousted No. 6 seed Andreas Seppi in the quarterfinals. Evans is the first qualifier to reach the finals...

23 Feb

Posted at 16:35h in Newswire
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By STEVE DORSEY DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – The 40-year-old Bryan brothers, the winningest men’s doubles team in ATP Tour history, continue to chalk up victories in the twilight of their storied career. They’re in position to claim their 117th career ATP title on Sunday following a straight-sets win Saturday afternoon in the semifinals of the Delray Beach Open. The No. 1 seed twins, Bob and Mike, earned their seventh appearance in the finals here with a 6-3, 7-5 win against Marcelo Arevalo and Jamie Cerretani and will be bidding for their fifth Delray Beach Open title Sunday at the Delray Beach Stadium and Tennis Center. The won the title here the last time in 2015. Adding to their remarkable career is the fact that they not only are playing again but also winning matches after Bob Bryan had to take a hiatus from playing to have hip surgery...

23 Feb

Posted at 00:22h in Newswire
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By STEVE DORSEY DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – It was a tough night for seeded players Friday night at the ATP Tour’s Delray Beach Open, as No. 1 seed and world No. 4 Juan Martin del Potro and No. 4 seed Steve Johnson fell in the evening quarterfinals. American Mackenzie McDonald chalked up his biggest victory as a pro when he defeated a hobbled del Potro 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5). Del Potro was playing in his first tournament since a right knee injury sent him to the sidelines for four months. Earlier in the evening, Radu Albot of Moldova rallied to upset Johnson 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), giving him the other semifinal slot opposite McDonald on Saturday night. McDonald’s win against del Potro was his first against a top 10-ranked player on the ATP Tour. He will be playing in his first ATP semifinal. “I’ve played a couple of these top 10...

22 Feb

Posted at 20:33h in Newswire
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On Thursday night, World #5 ATP ranked player and Delray Beach resident, Kevin Anderson, received the key to the City of Delray Beach. During the presentation which included City Mayor, Shelly Petrolia, and Commissioners Adam Frankel and Bill Bathurst, they announced February 21st as Kevin Anderson day. Currently ranked world No. 5 in men’s singles on the ATP Tour following recent appearances in the finals of Wimbledon and US Open and the 2018 year-end Nitto ATP Tour Finals, Anderson was the 2012 winner in Delray Beach. Anderson trains year-round at the Delray Beach Tennis Center and is actively involved in the Delray Beach community through his charitable involvement with Dezzy’s Second Chance dog rescue and Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas Alliance. In addition to this, he is actively involved with organizations to keep single use plastics out of the oceans and endorses the City of...

22 Feb

Posted at 20:18h in Newswire
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By STEVE DORSEY DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – A modern day-like David and Goliath battle will be contested in one of Saturday’s singles semifinals at the ATP Tour’s Delray Beach Open. A first-ever meeting between 5-9 qualifier Daniel Evans of Great Britain and 6-10 world No. 9 American John Isner was penciled into Saturday’s semifinal card after both registered straight-sets wins Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals at the Delray Beach Stadium and Tennis Center. Evans, who needed to win two matches in the qualifying draw last weekend to earn a spot in the main draw, continued his winning ways here with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against No. 6 seed Andreas Seppi of Italy. Isner, the No. 2 seed, followed with a 7-6(2), 6-4 win against No. 8 seed Adrian Mannarino of France, setting up the intriguing matchup in one of the semifinals Saturday. Evans has been on a roll in...

21 Feb

Posted at 23:49h in Newswire
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By STEVE DORSEY DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – Every match he finishes and every win he notches is another positive step for Juan Martin del Potro as he works his way back from a right knee injury that sidelined him for four months. Del Potro added another Delray Beach Open win to his resume Thursday night when the 6-6 Argentine tamed 6-11 American Reilly Opelka 6-4, 6-4 in the nightcap at the Delray Beach Stadium and Tennis Center that put the finishing touches on the second round of competition at the annual ATP Tour tournament. The win moves del Potro into Friday’s quarterfinals where he will face American Mackenzie McDonald in the final match of the day. “First of all, it was a little bit weird to play a guy who is taller than me,” del Potro mused after the match. Then the subject of his knee was addressed. Del Potro...

21 Feb

Posted at 22:57h in Newswire
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By STEVE DORSEY DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – Radu Albot didn’t know quite what to expect the first time he played the hard-serving Nick Kyrgios last year at the U. S. Open. But the 29-year-old from Muldova was better prepared for the world No. 64 Aussie on Thursday at the ATP Tour’s Delray Beach Open. Albot avenged the loss to Kyrgios in their first meeting with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win Thursday to earn a spot in Friday’s quarterfinals where he will face world No. 34 American Steve Johnson, the No. 4 seed here this week. “At the U. S. Open, I  was leading in the first set and I lost that set, so it was a little bit maybe a missed opportunity,” Albot said after his win Thursday. “Today I managed to break him twice (in the first set).” Kyrgios, who ousted No. 5 seed John Millman in the...