Delray lands Querrey, Kyrgios, Shapovalov
Former champ joins rising young stars for 2018 ATP event.
DELRAY BEACH — World No. 13 Sam Querrey is playing the best tennis of his career, and the 30-year-old American’s commitment to play in Delray Beach Open’s 2018 ATP World Tour event returns another former champ to an already strong lineup.
The 2014 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Nick Kyrgios of Australia and Top 50 Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov also will make their Delray Beach debuts in the 10-day event, Feb. 16-25 at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center.
The new committed players join a field that already includes world No. 9 and defending event champion Jack Sock, world No. 11 and 2011 Delray Beach champion Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina and former world No. 4 Milos Raonic of Canada. The 16-time Grand Slam champion and fourtime Delray Beach champion Bryan Brothers highlight the 16-team doubles field.
Since committing to Delray Beach, Sock and del Potro have played stellar tennis. Sock won the regular season-ending Master Series 1000 tournament in Paris, rocketing him into the Top 10 for the first time in his career, and qualifying him for the ATP World Tour Finals, which is reserved for the best eight players from the just-completed season. Sock is the first American in the event since Boca Prep’s Mardy Fish qualified in 2011.
“We were saying over the summer that we already had our best field in history, but with Sock and Delpo’s incredible finish to 2017 and with the new trio who have signed with us — that puts it over the top,” said tournament director Mark Baron.
While Querrey, a twotime winner on the ATP Tour in 2017, will make his 10th appearance in Delray Beach, the buzz surrounding Kyrgios and Shapovalov makes Baron even more happy. “These youngsters are two of the most exciting players on Tour,” said Baron. “(They)are going to be household names in tennis for years to come.”
Kyrgios, 22, followed his 2014 Wimbledon run with a breakout season in 2016, winning three ATP titles with six wins over Top 10 players and a career-best No. 13 ranking.
He has continued to be among the world’s best in 2017, with three more wins over Top 10 players, a first Master Series 1000 final in Cincinnati, and semifinal finishes at the Indian Wells and Miami 1000 series events.
The Israeli-born Shapovalov, 18, became the youngest player in the Top 100 in August before breakout tournaments at the U.S. Open and Master Series 1000 in Montreal.
Shapovalov upset del Potro and then-world No. 2 Rafael Nadal in front of home crowds on his way to the Montreal semifinal and then beat world No. 12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to reach the fourth round at Flushing Meadows. Now he’s moved into the Top 50, and the ATP chose him as its 2017 “Star of Tomorrow.” When the six players arrive in Delray Beach in February, the tournament could have five in the Top 20 — a first for the event.
Tickets can be purchased online at yellowtennisball.com, at the Delray Beach Open Box Office (30 NW 1st Ave.) or by calling the box office at 561-330-6000.