This is always a special tournament with a long history of so many classic matches and moments – unknown Kei Nishikori winning the title as a teenager vs Blake 36 61 64 in 2008… The Bryan Brothers blowing a 9-2 match tiebreak lead in the 2016 final vs Fabrice Martin and Oliver Marach 36 76 13-11 … Delpomania… and last year’s thriller final Kecmanovic beating Fokina 36 61 75.
Every year there’s dramatic unforgettable matches and this year’s edition has maintained the tennis excellence.
Sebastian Korda edging Alex Michelsen in two close sets 64 76 was mesmerizing because it seemed to be personal, the veteran American wanted to make a statement to the young gun who fired a head shot at him in their previous clash in Brisbane, which was won by Michelsen. Both fought tooth and nail with emotion and saved many game and break points under pressure. In the end it was Korda who scored maybe his most impressive win in three years.
Learner Tien is the talk of the ATP now and his momentum keeps increasing, beating the defending champ Kemanovic in a marathon and now he will meet veteran Tiafoe who certainly wants to put the young American in his place while reviving his own stagnated career. 20 year old Tien is ranked 23 in the world now.
Taylor Fritz seems to be a marked man lately as the highest ranked American and a top five elite but he continues to reserve his status taking out one of the hottest prospects in years Rafael Jodar 76 64. Fritz will play his buddy Tommy Paul next. Paul is now 24 in the world and this week survived two scares from Corentin Moutet, who fought off ten match points, and LL Adam Walton 76 63.
Wong vs Cobolli and Korda vs Ruud are the two other Quarterfinals. The stars may be aligning for a rematch of last week’s Dallas thriller where Fritz barely escaped Korda 76 in the third from 25 down in the third set tiebreaker.
Delray Beach Open