Tag Archive | "International Tennis Championships"

Gulbis Wins the International Tennis Championships in Delray Beach

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Gulbis Wins the International Tennis Championships in Delray Beach


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Ernests Gulbis made a return appearance in the final at the International Tennis Championships in Delray Beach, Florida. The 2010 champion battled 29 year old Edouard Roger-Vasselin who was in his maiden ATP final. Gulbis downed Roger-Vasselin 7-6, 6-3 to bank his third career trophy.

This is the first time since 2007 in Houston that two players ranked outside the top hundred have reached this stage of the tournament. Gulbis, a former top 30 player, narrowly escaped the qualifying round to get into the main draw.

In the second round, Gublis overcame a 4-0 lead by third seed Sam Querrey in the third set. Later, in the semifinals versus second seed Tommy Haas, the Latvian erased a 0-40 disadvantage in the third set at 5 all to become the sixth qualifier to advance to the final.

For his part, Roger-Vasselin bounced big serving Ivo Karlovic in the second round, then, shocked top seed John Isner in the semifinals.

Although Gulbis and Roger-Vasselin had not met at the big league level, the two clashed on three prior occasions on the challenger circuit last in 2007 with Gulbis the winner every time.

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Roddick and Lendl Commit to 2012 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships

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Roddick and Lendl Commit to 2012 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships


Andy Roddick is scheduled to play in the 2012 International Tennis Championships in Delray Beach, Florida. Roddick’s appearance will be highly anticipated after he was forced to withdraw last year due to flu-like symptoms.

Ivan Lendl will highlight the Champions Tour event where he will complete along side Mats Wilander, Pat Cash, Michael Pernfors, Aaron Kricstein and Jimmy Arias.

Here is the official press release from the tournament :

Roddick and Lendl To Star in 2012 Delray Beach ITC

Delray Beach, FL – 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick will headline the ATP World Tour event while tennis Hall of Famer Ivan Lendl will lead the eight-player ATP Champions Tour event at the 20th annual Delray Beach International Tennis Championships next February.

The combined ATP tennis event, played at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center, has been moved back one week on the ATP calendar to February 24 – March 4.

“Our 2012 field is off to a flying start with Andy and Ivan on board,” said Delray Beach ITC tournament director Mark Baron. “We look forward to welcoming Andy back and seeing him play great tennis, and having Ivan play in Delray Beach for the first time is something I am looking forward to. He redefined the game.”

Roddick has been the most successful American over the last decade and enjoyed a five-year run in the Top 5. The 28-year-old former Boca Raton resident has reached the finals of five Grand Slams and in 2003 became the youngest American ever to be ranked No. 1 at the age of 21.

“I am really looking forward to returning to Delray,” said Roddick, winner of 30 ATP titles and 33 US Davis Cup singles matches – second only to John McEnroe. ” I have a lot of great memories playing so close to where I grew up. You can truly feel the local support of the fans and the city for the tournament.”

Lendl, the eight-time Grand Slam champion who has lived in Florida for more than a decade, will headline an eight-player ATP Champions field that also includes fellow Grand Slam champions Mats Wilander and Pat Cash.

“I am very much looking forward to playing in Delray Beach in February,” said Lendl, who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2001. “I have heard many good things about the event and it will be enjoyable to play against my old rivals in front of fans who really appreciate tennis.”

The Czech-turned US citizen was the world’s No. 1 player for 270 weeks during his career, and he was the year-end No. 1 four times (1985-87, 1989). He played in eight consecutive US Open finals, winning the event three straight years from 1985 to 1987, and compiled an amazing 144 tournament wins.

Joining Lendl, Wilander and Cash in the ATP Champions event will be 1986 French Open finalist Michael Pernfors of Vero Beach, Boca Raton’s Aaron Krickstein, the youngest ever ATP Top 10 player at age 17, and Jimmy Arias, No. 6 in the world as a 19-year old in 1983. Wilander, Cash and Krickstein have played in the ATP Champions Tour event since its inception in 2009 and Pernfors and Arias played last February.

Roddick has played in four Delray Beach ITC ATP World Tour events and last played in 2003. He was the top seed in last year’s draw, but a bout with the flu put on hold his return to the tournament where he played his first professional match.

The tournament is kicking off its third annual “US Open Ticket Promotion,” offering discounts on Delray Beach ITC tickets for the 18-session, 10-day event.

Beginning Sunday, August 28 at 8:00 am and ending Sunday, September 11 at midnight, a 10 percent discount will be offered on all individual box seats ($70 – $90 regular price) and Reserved Series packages ($220 – $540 regular price), while individual reserved seats ($40 – $60 regular price) will be discounted 15 percent.

The most popular Reserved Series packages include the Diamond Series ($540 regular price, all 18 sessions); the Champions Series ($320 regular price, sessions 1-9), which combines all ATP Champions Tour matches and four ATP World Tour sessions; the World Tour Series($430, sessions 6-18), including All ATP World Tour matches plus two days of ATP Champions Tour matches (including the final); and the Weekender Series ($220 regular price, sessions 14-18), featuring ATP World Tour quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. All four packages will be discounted 10% during the promotional period.

Following the promotion, tournament packages will remain on sale, but individual tickets will not be available to the public again until November 1.

Fans can order online through www.YellowTennisBall.com or by calling 561-330-6000. All ticket opportunities, prices and amenities are explained in detail on the website.

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Del Potro Sacks Soderling, Djokovic Easily Wins at the Sony Ericsson Open

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Del Potro Sacks Soderling, Djokovic Easily Wins at the Sony Ericsson Open




With each passing match, Juan Martin Del Potro looks one step closer to the form which made him the 2009 U.S. Open champion and a world number four. In the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open, Del Potro knocked out current world number four Robin Soderling 6-3, 6-2.

With three titles already this season and a 20-2 record, Soderling should have felt pretty good going into this contest. However, a recent ailment and an earlier than expected exit at Indian Wells allowed just enough room for Soderling to doubt his chances.

As a result of a net court winner, Del Potro obtained his fourth break point opportunity in the fourth game of the first set. The Argentine capitalized when Soderling’s backhand down the line sailed wide. Then, with an ace on game point, Del Potro consolidated for 4-1.

Because of sensational serving, Del Potro guarded the one break advantage and carried the first set.

After Del Potro broke the first game of the second set, Soderling came alive with two winners to go up 0-30. Yet, Del Potro’s serve came to the rescue. The Argentine saved the game for a 2-0 lead.

Later, Del Potro captured an insurance break. Then with a strong game closed out the match.

When Del Potro won the title in Delray, he felt that the true measure of the state of his game would be prevailing over a top ten player. Having accomplished this objective, Del Potro was asked to evaluate his progress “when you play against these kinds of players and [win it gives you a little bit of confidence]. Today, my serve, my forehand, my backhand, everything worked incredibly well. He’s a really good player. He had chances, too, but I took my opportunities. . .that was very important for my confidence”.

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Delray Beach Welcomes ITC

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Delray Beach Welcomes ITC


img_8728Once more, the Florida swing of the ATP initiates with the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships.  Along with the 250 World tour event which takes place from February 22 thru 28; for the first time, the Champions Tour comes to Delray with play running concurrently from February 20 thru 23.

Heading the line up from the legends tour are multiple major winner John McEnroe, two time U.S Open champion Patrick Rafter, fellow Aussie and 1987 Wimbledon victor Pat Cash, holder of seven majors Mats Wilander, 1990 French Open winner Andres Gomez and Johan Kriek two time Australian Open titlist.

From the World tour, 2009 champion Mardy Fish returns seeking to become the first individual since Jason Stoltenberg in 1996-97 to defend.  Fish will face stiff competition from top seed Tommy Haas winner in 2006, second seed and serving giant Ivo Karlovic, two time finalist James Blake and two time champion Xavier Malisse. Wildcard youngster Kei Nishikori who stunned Blake in the 2008 final has again been given a wildcard entry.

On the doubles side, the top attraction are Mike and Bob Bryan who are on the hunt for their second straight title.

Come out to see today’s stars as well as those of yesteryears.  For more info on the tournament and to purchase tickets go to www.yellowtennisball.com or call (561) 330-6000.

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Fish Overcomes Qualifier In ITC Final

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Fish Overcomes Qualifier In ITC Final


img_9302At the International Tennis Championship, being seeded number one has always been a malediction. But today, American Mardy Fish dispelled that curse by becoming the first top seed to win in Delray. Fish prevailed over 21 year-old Russian qualifier Evgeny Korolev 7-5, 6-3 for his third career title.

In this match, the weather was a significant part of the story. While the swirling wind contributed to Fish’s tentative play, Korolev did not modify his game plan and went for his shots. After Fish held serve, Korolev had a love service game to start his first ATP final. Then, the Russian put away a forehand crosscourt winner for deuce. Mardy countered with a forehand winner for game point. But, Fish could not control his next forehand. Play was interrupted at deuce by rain.

When the players returned, Korolev reached break point and converted for a 2-1 lead. The Russian’s advantage faded when with crosscourt unforced errors on the backhand and forehand side, Korolev allowed Fish to break back. However, in the subsequent game, on his third break try, Korolev crushed a backhand return which resulted in an error from Fish giving the Russian the lead again for 3-2. After Korolev consolidated with a love game, he hit a forehand down the line winner for break point, now a double break advantage was at stake. But, Fish pulled out the game with a few good serves. After his third love game for 5-3, in a 15-40 game, Korolev made a sensational backhand dropshot to get to deuce. Again, with a couple of unforced errors by Korolev, Fish was let off the hook. After connecting on a forehand down the line winner to begin serving out the set, Korolev made three consecutive unforced errors to face double break point. With a bold backhand dropshot winner and a backhand down the line error from Fish, Korolev got to deuce. However, when Korolev failed with another dropshot, Fish had an advantage point. Then, Evgeny netted a forehand volley to equalize the set at 5-5. After escaping with a hold with a forehand volley winner, aided by his rival, Fish arrived at triple break point. When Korolev misfired on the forehand, Fish pocketed the first set.

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Redemption In Delray: The Bryans Hoist Their First ITC Trophy

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Redemption In Delray: The Bryans Hoist Their First ITC Trophy


img_9139After a disappointing lost in the 2008 doubles final at the International Tennis Championships, world number one and top seed, Mike and Bob Bryan, bounced back this year by defeating the second seed, Brazilians Marcelo Melo and Andre Sa in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.

The Brazilians began well which troubled the Bryans as they produced a flurry of unforced errors. In the third game, Melo and Sa had triple break point. However, with clutch serving and by holding his composure after an ace was taken off the board due to a foot fault, Mike Bryan came out unscathed to equalize things at 2-2. The set’s next crucial moment came with Sa serving. After the Brazilians lead 40-15, the Bryans broke for a 4-3 advantage. With Mike serving, a crosscourt return by Sa hit Melo in the vicinity of the right eye, a frightening episode causing a temporary halt in the action. Fortunately, Marcelo recovered. After Mike Bryan consolidated the break, Melo closed out his service game with an ace for 4-5. Regardless, with a backhand volley winner by Mike and with two good serves by Bob, the Bryans captured the first set.

In the second set, the Bryans had the opportunity for the early lead. With a forehand return winner, they arrived at a deciding point. But, Melo salvaged the game with a great serve. Bob Bryan continued his strong serving, sealing his game with an ace for 1 all. Each team had a fairly unadventurous time holding serve until the seventh game. After leading 40-15, Melo missed an easy forehand volley, then, Sa volleyed up for 40-40 which meant in essence a break point. Fortunately, Melo’s forehand volley just caught the line which saved the game for 4-3. Thereafter, the Bryans had no trouble on their own service game and pressured the Brazilians. With Melo serving, Mike placed a sensational lob resulting in an unforced error by Melo. Then, Sa mishit a forehand volley to hand the Bryans triple break point. With a forehand winner, the Bryans went up 5-4. With sure handed Bob serving, the Bryans put away a backhand volley up the line, forced three service return errors to secure the match.

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