Delray gets No. 6 Raonic
The U.S. Open starts today but South Florida’s two professional tournaments are already preparing to welcome some of the same Top10 stars next winter.
The Delray Beach Open, which runs from Feb. 17-28, will include sixth-ranked Milos Raonic, Canada’s top player for the first time. The 6-foot-5 hard-serving Canadian is the highest-ranked player to enter the tournament since 2003 when Andy Roddick was also ranked sixth.
Raonic, 25, who’s seeded fifth this week in the U.S. Open, is 42-11 this year. He won his eighth career title in Brisbane in January and reached his first Grand Slam final in Wimbledon last month after defeating Roger Federer, but loss to AndyMurray.
“I know there is great support from Canadians in the area, and I definitely want to play in a venue with that kind of atmosphere,” Raonic said in a tournament press release. “I am sad to have been unable to compete in it last year, but it adds to the excitement for me to come there and do well.
“I have continued to hear good things about the tournament frommyATPpeers, and I'm excited to visit Florida in February and play in the Delray Beach Open.”
This year Raonic reached finals in Indian Wells and London, a grasscourt tuneup to Wimbledon, while also making the semifinals of the Australian Open.
Also returning to Delray Beach for the 10th time are Mike and Bob Bryan, the winningest doubles team in ATP history. The 38-year-old twins have won the tournament four times, but were unable to cash in on six match points before losing in a dramatic tiebreaking final last year to Oliver Marach and Fabrice Martin.
Fans can receive a 20 percent discount on individual box seats and reserved tickets through Sept. 16 by purchasing them online at DelrayBeachOpenTickets.com, by phone at 561-330-6000 or at the box office at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.
The Miami Open returns to Key Biscayne and the Crandon Park Tennis Center for the30th yearandwill run fromMarch 20-April 2.
Ticket packages start at $136 and individual tickets began at $30. For more information or to purchase tickets go to www.miamiopen. or call 305-442-3367.