Delray Beach Open:
Smaller is Bigger
John Yandell
It's been said that small is beautiful. But in my view small can also be big. This year I am going back to the Delray Beach Open for the third time. And I advise you to head there as well—and email me when you arrive!
Delray is a beautiful place for sure. A relatively small, long established beach town with a mixture of trendy and funky. But the Delray Open is big in my mind because of the opportunity to see some of the best players in the world in a series of intimate venues.
15 years ago or more I started covering Indian Wells. At the time it was a relatively undiscovered jewel. You could move around the stadiums. You could just walk up and stand in the front row on the practice courts. As great as the event has become, neither of those is remotely possible there now.
Delray though has that same feel that Indian Wells had years ago. The stadiums are relatively small and although there is good attendance, it's not packed up tight—especially in the early days. The practice courts? You can still get in the first row.
Companion Champions Tour
Another big positive is that Delray is the only ATP Tour event that is combined with The Champions Tour. So for the first 3 days there is a chance to see some of the great players in tennis history.
This year for the first time Tim Henman is playing. And I am hoping he is going to serve and volley on every serve—and chip and charge on every return.
Fernando Gonzales is there. So is Wayne Ferreira. Another interesting player you haven't heard of in a while is Mikael Pernfors. Remember him? And then there is one of few top players ever to use two-hands on both sides: Jan-Michael Gambill. How does he do that and what do his grip changes look like?
One senior player who isn't in the event is Jimmy Arias. But he is commentating for Tennis Channel. Last year he and I met up and he did a great article for us on his forehand and the birth of the modern forehand with some interesting insights on his dad's view of conventional teaching and what Nick Bollettieri thought the first time his saw Jimmy hit his signature stroke. (Click Here.)
Tour Draw
In the main tour event Juan Martin Del Potro is the biggest name player. We know he had a severe knee injury. But he is on record as saying he is going to make his comeback at Delray and hopefully that will happen. As I've written multiple times his groundstrokes have an amazing combination of deliberateness, relaxation, and extension in the followthroughs. One of the biggest hitters ever.
Nick Kyrgios is signed up as well, as he was last year, although last year he pulled out before his first match. I watched him practice the day before that and he looked fine. Kyrgios has dropped out of the top 50 and lost to Milos Raonic in straight sets in the first round of the Australian Open and is seemingly now having trouble with his right knee. Who knows—maybe that puts him just where he wants to be to win some matches. Maybe he will shock everyone and win the tournament. I doubt it, but that would be interesting.
Milos is also coming back to Delray. He was in a funk last year and lost in the second round to Steve Johnson in two not very close sets. Now he is back in the top 20, and is looking way, way more positive.
I had an interesting experience last year with Jonas Bjorkman, who was coaching Milos at the time. I showed him my analysis of the technical flaws in Milos's backhand. (Click Here.)
Jonas is a smart guy and he totally understood what the video showed. He expressed an interest to showing it to Milos.
Then Milos lost badly and left town. Within a week Bjorkman was out and Goran Ivanisevic was the new coach. Who knows maybe this year I can get Goran to take a look—or maybe this time I will just approach Milos directly.
Who Next?
What new player is going to breakthrough and win a Grand Slam? Someone at Delray this year? One pretty good candidate is Kevin Anderson, who loves in the area. He has been in two Slam finals, which is more than can be said of the various other Next Gen players.
Then there is Francis Tiafoe who had a monster, breakout tournament at Delray last year, winning the event. He beat Delpo is 3 sets, then Denis Shapovalov in 2, and Hyeon Chung in 3 before cruising through the final over Peter Gojowczyk. And this year in Australia he had another big win over Kevin Anderson.
The Bryan brothers will be there, playing together. But no official mention of Chung or Shapovalov on the entry list, so far. That would add interest, but regardless it's a very strong field for an ATP 250 and I am looking forward to absorbing it all at close range.
Other Interests
And speaking of looking forward, for me there is more in Delray than tennis. Every time I swim in the Atlantic Ocean I feel about 10 years younger—at least for a day or so. The Delray Beach is great for that. Beautiful and not over crowded with scary South Beach types.
Delray also has a varied and really vibrant food scene. I've sampled many places across different genres. This year gonna try Salt7, a cool looking place right on the main drag, with a bar scene, and they serve til 11pm.
Once again I will be staying with Tennisplayer contributor, tennis director, and gourmand Kyle LaCroix at his immaculate house with the tile floors, the 65inch flat screen always turned to Tennis Channel, and blessedly, my own suite.
I am looking forward to watching Kyle inhale some grilled octopus and a bone in cowboy ribeye—both on the menu at Salt7. And they call my job work!
