By Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
The singles draw at the 2024 Delray Beach Open ATP Tour 250 level tournament features no less than eight players in the main draw of singles who competed at the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, the $15,000 USTA Pro Circuit ITF World Tennis Tour event in Vero Beach.
They are Alex Michelsen, Patrick Kypson, Tommy Paul, Jerry Shang, Miomir Kecmanovic, Zach Svajda, Yosi Nishioka and Frances Tiafoe.
Of the eight, Michelsen is the most recent competitor, losing in the first round in three tough sets to eventual champion Sekou Bangoura in 2022. Patrick Kypson competed in Vero Beach in 2016 in the qualifying tournament and 2017, when he reached the second round .
Tommy Paul actually earned his first ATP ranking point in Vero Beach in 2014, as you can read here: “Looking Back At A Hallmark Event In The Career of Tommy Paul – His First ATP Point (Achieved In Vero Beach, Florida In 2014) https://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/21667
Jerry Shang won the singles title in Vero Beach in 2021 at the age of 16 and Miomir Kecmanovic was the same age when he won the doubles title in Vero Beach in 2016 with Jonas Luetjen.
Zach Svajda was 15 years old when he advanced through qualifying to reach the second round in Vero Beach in 2019 – the same year he made his debut at the U.S. Open.
Yosi Nishioka reached the semifinals in Vero Beach in 2013 (after losing in the second round in 2012) and Frances Tiafoe lost in the second round in 2014.
The Delray Beach Open runs through February 18. For more information, go to www.YellowTennisBall.com
The 2024 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships will be held April 22-28 at the Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club at Timber Ridge. For more information, go to www.MardyFishChildrensFoundation.org
