Tennis Briefs(3): Del Potro at Delray Beach Open, More

Delray Beach Open Kidz Day Looking for Spanish-Speaking Tennis Families

If you will be attending the Delray Beach Open you only have until Feb. 12, 2016 to register for the Kidz Day event, which will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb 15.

“Hola! We are also looking for tennis-playing Spanish-speaking families that would like to be interviewed by Univision television during Kidz Day,” says organizer Janet Sprague. For details contact her at (561) 385-7399.

The Kidz Day event will feature red ball, orange ball, green dot and yellow ball-level matches for ages 6-16, appropriate for beginner to advanced-intermediate players.

Parents and player must register via the website below. The entry fee is $33 which includes two tickets to enter the grounds.

This event is organized by the East Coast Tennis Foundation, Inc., a USTA Community Tennis Association (CTA) and a member of the USTA National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network with a mission to provide opportunities for socio-economically disadvantaged populations to develop their mental, physical and social well-being through the lifetime sport of tennis.

To register for the event or for more info go to www.2016kidzday.eventbrite.com.

Del Potro to Make Injury Return at 2016 Delray Beach

Former Delray Beach champion Juan Martin del Potro is taking a wildcard into the Delray Beach Open, making his second appearance at the ATP World Tour event. The 10-day event is coming up Feb. 12-21, 2016, with ATP World Tour play scheduled to begin Monday, Feb. 15 at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center.

Del Potro will be making a long-awaited comeback from multiple wrist surgeries.

“We’ve been expecting this call,” said Delray Beach Open Tournament Director Mark Baron. “Juan Martin has always had Delray Beach in his comeback plans, and we’re happy to know that it’s come to fruition. We are rooting for him to be able to overcome his injury and hope he will have a successful comeback.”

The 27-year-old Argentine has won 18 career ATP titles, including a US Open win, and reached a career-high No. 4 ranking in 2010.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Del Potro said. “As I had promised that I would make a comeback around January or February, now I can confirm it will happen at Delray Beach. I wanted to share the news and also the happiness that I feel knowing that I will play a tennis tournament after such a long time.”

https://youtu.be/4uHJX_8vazo

Del Potro’s appearance in Delray Beach’s 32-player singles draw gives the tournament four former champions, including defending champion Ivo Karlovic, Kevin Anderson (2012) and Tommy Haas (2006). Additionally, the Bryan Brothers are defending doubles champions and will be chasing their third consecutive title.

The 2016 Delray Beach field also features Milos Raonic, Bernard Tomic and Grigor Dimitrov.

For more info go to www.YellowTennisBall.com.

2nd Annual Tennis, Golf ‘Scramble Fore the Greyhounds’ in Tampa

The 2nd Annual ‘Scramble Fore the Greyhounds’ tennis tournament will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2016 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Fla.

All proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Greyhound Pets of America-Tampa Bay chapter, Derby Lane’s official greyhound adoption partner. The event will include women’s, men’s and mixed divisions with compressed draws to accommodate all levels of play.

A $40 entry fee includes breakfast, lunch, a full day of tennis and prizes. The tournament format will be 8-game pro sets, with a four-round minimum.  The tournament is also a qualifier for the 2017 Suncoast Tennis Foundation Tournament of Champions.

For more info visit www.scrambleforethegreyhounds.com to make a donation or sign up to play.