By Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
It was an All-American Day on President’s Day at the Delray Beach Open.
On the day where Americans celebrate their 46 Presidents, it was Taylor Fritz, the current “Commander in Chief” of American tennis as the nation’s top-ranked player, beating the U.S. No. 2 Tommy Paul 6-2, 6-3 to win his seventh career singles title on the ATP Tour.
The final was bumped to the Monday President’s Day holiday due to rain in Florida and the cool and slightly blustery conditions aided the hard-serving and hitting Fritz against the mainly counter-punching Paul. Fritz won the 2023 title in Delray Beach beating Miomir Kecmanovic in the final and technically becomes the first player to ever defend their title at the city-owned Delray Beach Tennis Center. However, the tournament used to be played on clay in the nearby city of Coral Springs, Florida – where it was dubbed “America’s Red Clay Championships” – and Australian Jason Stoltenberg won consecutive titles there in 1996 and 1997. The event moved to the hard courts in Delray Beach in 1999.
Fritz has been the flag bearer for American tennis for most of the last two years as the highest-ranked American player. However, unlike his compatriots Paul, Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton, he has not broken through to reach a Grand Slam semifinal, although he has reached the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon. His signature win came when he won the title at the ATP 1000-level event in Indian Wells, California in 2022 defeating Rafael Nadal in the final. His career high ranking is No. 5.
Paul entered the final with a seven-match winning streak that included his second career ATP Tour title in Dallas played indoors the previous week.
The Delray Beach Open is fast becoming a fan favorite event played in mid-February that attracts not only Florida seasonal snowbirds, the fast-growing number of full-time Florida residents but also vacationing tennis fans from colder winter climates. The 2024 event attracted a total of 67,175 fans over the 10 days and 17 sessions of the event, an all-time record.
To see a review video of the look, feel and vibe of the tournament, watch this video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/UN1L-JdF63g?si=fPeAF4v3etyvrvur
