Top Things To Know
1) A Ruud Family Affair
World No. 13 Casper Ruud of Norway makes his Delray Beach Open debut Wednesday at 8 p.m. The three-time Grand Slam finalist arrives here just weeks after the birth of his first child, a daughter. A few months before Casper was born in 1998, his father and coach, Christian, played this tournament when it was in Coral Springs, falling in his first match. Casper will seek to best his dad when he faces American Marcos Giron.
2) Korda Family Legacy
Not to be outdone by the Ruuds, the Kordas have a generational legacy at this tournament as well. Petr Korda played the event in 1997 and 1999, with his best result a second-round finish. For the record, his son Sebastian Korda has far surpassed that, reaching the final in 2021 and the quarterfinals in 2022. Sebastian won his first round this year and faces Alex Michelsen in an all-American second-round matchup. If both Korda and Ruud win their matches Wednesday, they will meet in the quarterfinals.
3) Welcome to The Show
Doubles wild card Benjamin Kittay played and won his first ATP Tour-level match when he and partner Ryan Seggerman won their first round here, helping Kittay make the leap from the "minor league" Challenger tour to the "major league" ATP Tour. The 2024-25 NCAA doubles runner-up for Michigan is still in school online to finish his degree but has turned pro. He has been a practice partner for two Davis Cup ties, with captain and coach Bob and Mike Bryan as pretty good doubles mentors with 16 Grand Slams and six Delray Beach titles together. Kittay is coached by the Bryans' former coach, Dave Macpherson.
4) Americans Tie All-Time Record
After Tommy Paul won on his 11th match point Tuesday night, that made nine Americans into the second round which ties the tournament record. It's happened just five times in the 34-year-history of the tournament, and now in back-to-back years. It is possible for seven Americans to advance to the quarterfinals, which would beat the record of six.
