This Year It’s Delray

The Delray Stadium: close up viewing.

This year I am going to cover the Delray Beach Open—it’s not too late to get your tickets. Fly Jet Blue to Ft. Lauderdale. If you are ever going to do it this is the year. It’s a compelling field.

I have been hearing great things about this tournament for years from my good friend and Tennisplayer writer Kyle LaCroix, tennis director at the Boca Oaks which is less than 10 miles from Delray. When I saw this year’s entry list I decided to apply for credentials. And I get to stay with Kyle in his elegant 3 bedroom house with a gigantic television that is always tuned to the Tennis Channel.

The unanswered question on the ATP tour is who is the next player who will break through and win a Grand Slam event. Two obvious candidates are Alexander Zverev and Dominick Thiem. But there are four other possible names—and maybe even a fifth–and they are all at Delray this year.

Milos Ranoic, Nick Krygios, Jack Sock, and Denis Shapovalov. Delray is a chance that might not come around again to take a look at them in a smaller, more intimate stadium half…