ATP announces two Australian Open tuneup events to the 2021 schedule

Delray Beach Open Stadium (Google Images)

The ATP Tour has announced two more men’s singles events for the 2021 season. Leading up to the Australian Open there will be events in Delray Beach, Florida, and Antalya, Turkey from January 7-13. These will be ATP 250 events, with 32 players participating in each tournament.

You will probably find players participating in Delray Beach and Antalya who have already qualified for the Australian Open. Those who still need to qualify will be in Doha, Qatar from January 10-13.

The Delray Beach Open normally takes place in mid-February, after the Australian Open. However, a change in schedule needed to be made because the Australian Open is taking place three weeks later than it was initially scheduled.

Reilly Opelka, the tall, 6’11” giant from St. Joseph, Michigan, is the defending champion of Delray Beach. Last year, he defeated Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan in the final, 7-5, 6-7, 6-2.

Since the tournament started in 2000, there have been three two-time champions. Jan-Michael Gambill of the United States won in 2001, and 2003; Xavier Malisse of Belgium won in 2005, and 2007; and Ernests Gulbis of Latvia won in 2010, and 2013. Due to the fact that some great servers on the ATP Tour have won at Delray Beach suggests the court plays very fast. Former champions who have a great serve are Ivo Karlovic of Croatia, Kevin Anderson of South Africa, and Sam Querrey of the United States.

The Antalya Open meanwhile normally takes place in late June, and is a lead-up to Wimbledon. The event did not take place in 2020 due to coronavirus. This will be the fourth Antalya Open. Past champions include Yuichi Sugita of Japan, Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Lorenzo Sonego of Italy.

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