Lob and Smash
Fansided

ATP Delray Beach: Preview and Predictions

By Nate Slaymaker

facebooktwitterreddit

ATP Delray Beach: Preview and Predictions

Many would love to spend a February week in the sunshine of Florida. The ATP Tour flies south as well with the ATP Delray Beach Tournament this week. It is a tournament for those that prefer the hard courts of the United States to the red dirt of South America. Many American players will be in the field and will enjoy the crowd support.

The draw is highlighted by No.1 seed Kevin Anderson, who just today lost to Kei Nishikori in the finals at Memphis. Big servers John Isner and Ivo Karlovic have had success in South Florida in the past and will test the waters once more.

For the complete draw, click here.

No.1 seed Kevin Anderson’s Quarter 

Big servers John Isner and Ivo Karlovic have had success in South Florida in the past and will test the waters once more.

Anderson left with his runner-up trophy from the courts of Memphis straight to the airport to get to this tournament. He will not be scheduled to play until Tuesday and will look to continue a strong start to 2015. Those in his path include Australian Sam Groth, American Denis Kudla, and No.5 seed Adrian Mannarino.

Prediction: Anderson

No.4 seed Ivo Karlovic’s Quarter

The speedy courts of Delray Beach have been kind to Karlovic. This will be his seventh appearance and he reached the final in 2012. No.7 seed Steve Johnson has vaulted up the rankings with a great year so far, but he will be intimidated by the Croatian’s huge serve.

Prediction: Karlovic

No.3 seed Alexandr Dogopolov’s Quarter

This section of the draw is filled with Americans who have played well and are looking to take the next step. Sam Querrey looked back in top form, giving Nishikori all he could handle in the Memphis semis. Donald Young also made the semis in Memphis before losing to Anderson. Tim Smyczek gave Rafael Nadal a tough match in Australia and could face Dolgopolov in the second round.

More from Tournaments

Prediction: Querrey

No.2 seed John Isner’s Quarter

Isner fell to good friend Sam Querrey in Memphis. He is a three-time semifinalist at Delray Beach. Nestled in his quarter are Malek Jaziri, Bernard Tomic, and No.8 seed Viktor Troicki. Can any of them keep the big serving American at bay?

Prediction: Tomic

Semifinals: Querrey over Tomic, Anderson over Karlovic

While Tomic does have the game to reach the final, Querrey was denied in Memphis while playing some of the best tennis of his career. His easy-going attitude will prevail over the young Australian’s flair. Anderson and Karlovic will have plenty of aces. It could be two or three tiebreaks as well. Anderson’s big serve with a ground game will trump Karlovic’s equally big serve and rush to the net.

Final: Anderson over Querrey

Both these players fell just short in Memphis. Anderson overpowers Querrey and moves closer to the top 10 in the rankings.

Next: ATP Rio: Preview & Predictions

More from Lob and Smash

Home/Tournaments