DELRAY BEACH, November 30, 2022 (Press Release)

Adding to its top-flight player lineup, the Delray Beach Open announced on Wednesday that former champions Reilly Opelka and Kei Nishikori have committed to play the tournament as it celebrates its 25th edition in Delray Beach February 10-19, as have surging American star Tommy Paul and 2022 quarterfinalist Grigor Dimitrov. The four stars will join world top 10 player Taylor Fritz, defending champion Cameron Norrie, Canadian Denis Shapovalov, who helped Canada win its first-ever Davis Cup title on Sunday, and all-time ace leader John Isner.

Nishikori’s surprise victory in 2008 as an 18-year-old qualifier ranked No. 244 remains one of the seminal moments of the tournament’s history as well as Nishikori’s. In that tournament, he saved four match points against Sam Querrey in the semifinals before defeating world No. 12 James Blake to win his first title. Nishikori went on to become the No. 4-ranked player in the world, win 11 more titles and defeat No. 1 Novak Djokovic at the 2014 US Open to become the first Asian Grand Slam men’s singles finalist. His Delray Beach title still ranks him as the youngest winner on the ATP Tour since 1998.

“The Delray Beach Open holds a special place in my heart, because winning it in 2008 as a qualifier was the start of my career and my belief that I belonged at that level,” said Nishikori. “To be able to play it 15 years later is an honor. I hope it brings back the memory of that week for the longtime fans as the tournament marks 25 years in Delray Beach.” Nishikori returns to the tournament for the first time since 2014.

Opelka, a Delray Beach resident, won the tournament in 2020 and was runner-up in 2022. He holds the Delray Beach record for most aces in one tournament with 99 served in 2020. He won his third and fourth career ATP Tour titles in 2022 in Dallas and Houston, winning the longest tie-break in ATP Tour history (since 1990) 24-22 against Isner in the Dallas semis and defeating Isner in the Houston final.

Paul, Opelka’s Delray Beach roommate, is playing the event for the fourth consecutive year. In 2022 he reached the semifinals as a wild card and launched a breakthrough year that saw him reach a career-high ranking in the top 30 and his first Grand Slam fourth round at Wimbledon. He notched wins over world No. 3 Alexander Zverev, No. 4 Carlos Alcaraz and Grand Slam major winners Marin Cilic and Stan Wawrinka. A familiar face in Delray Beach since the juniors, he won back-to-back championships here at the USTA National Clay Court 16s and 18s in 2013-14.

Dimitrov is making his third appearance in Delray Beach, having reached the semifinals in 2016 and the quarterfinals in 2022. He is a former world No. 3 who has won eight titles and is a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist. In 2022 he notched wins over the last two Delray Beach Open champions, Norrie and Hubert Hurkacz.

Isner returns to the Delray Beach Open for the ninth year. He is scheduled to play his first match during session 7 on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Fritz, who recently qualified for the ATP Finals year-end championships and defeated Rafael Nadal enroute to the semifinals is scheduled to open his Delray Beach campaign in session 10 on Wednesday evening, Feb. 15.

Defending champion Norrie returns to Delray for the fifth time. Two months after winning the 2022 title he cracked the world’s Top 10 to become just the fourth Top 10 British player since ATP rankings began in 1973. He later won his first clay court title and reached his first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon.

Shapovalov is playing Delray Beach for the second time after upsetting former champion Ivo Karlovic in the first round in 2018. He started and ended 2022 with team championships for Canada, first at the ATP Cup and then the Davis Cup. Shapovalov reached the 2022 Australian Open quarterfinals and two finals late in the season. At 2021 Wimbledon he defeated two-time champion Andy Murray enroute to his first Grand Slam semifinal.

All individual session tickets for the Delray Beach Open are on sale and start at just $42. Weeklong series packages can now be secured for a $100 deposit. Veranda series packages have already sold out but a variety of series packages are still available starting at $750, including reserved seats, courtside box seats and on-court “Best Seats in the House.” Packages include parking and exclusive amenities, making them an all-inclusive deal. A Finals Weekender package starts at $300 and includes quarterfinals through finals tickets. For more information, please visit www.YellowTennisBall.com