5 matches to watch out for in the Delray Beach Open 2021

The ATP Tour resumes with the Delray Beach Open in Florida. The tournament is an ATP 250 event held every year since 1993. 

Here are some of the exciting encounters in the Delray Beach Open that one cannot afford to miss out

Sam Querrey vs Mackenzie McDonald

After disappearing from Russia post being diagnosed for Covid-19, Querrey was fined only $20,000 by the ATP and did not face a suspension for his act. He returns to competitive action now and is seeded sixth in the tournament. He is on a 5-match losing streak. 

McDonald who was last seen in action in the ATP Challenger circuit is ranked 194 now. This match could go the distance as Querrey is out of form and McDonald has it in him to pull off a big upset. Querrey has faced McDonald before in an exhibition tournament. 

Thomaz Bellucci vs Thiago Monteiro

This all-Brazilian clash is a mouthwatering first-round match in the Delray Beach Open. Ranked 281, Bellucci plays mostly Challenger and ITF tournaments. He has won four titles in his career and was once ranked as high as 21. Monteiro also plays mostly in the Challenger circuit and is currently ranked 84. Both the players are left-handed. Monteiro leads the head to head record 3-0 against Bellucci. 

Ivo Karlovic vs Pablo Andujar 

Karlovic made a last-minute decision not to play the Australian Open qualifiers scheduled to start on January 10 in Doha. He is playing his 21st season on the tour at the age of 41. Andujar is seeded 7th in the Delray Beach Open 2021 and can trouble Karlovic with his powerful groundstrokes. The Croatian will have to depend on his strong serve and volley game to unsettle Andujar. Andujar leads the head to head record 1-0 against Karlovic. 

Tommy Paul vs Nam Ji-Sung 

The fifth-seeded Paul is ranked 52 in the world now and also resides in Delray Beach. He has made impressive progress in the last few years. Ji-Sung is a South Korean player ranked 268 currently. Both the players have never won a single ATP title in their careers. 

Nam Ji-Sung has a superb net game that clicks well on hardcourts. Paul possesses a lot of firepower in his forehand that he uses as an attacking weapon. 

Sebastian Korda vs Kwon Soon-Woo

The 20-year old Korda is a former junior Australian Open champion and is ranked 119 now. He recently worked with the legendary, Andre Agassi in some training sessions. He will be making his debut at the Delray Beach Open. Soon-Woo is ranked 95. 

The 23-year-old is a consistent baseliner and has great court coverage with his speedy return of serve. Korda's main strengths are the big serve and the solid forehand. 

Despite some notable pullouts of Andy Murray, Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori, it is still a competitive draw out there with limited presence of the fans at Delray Beach Open 2021.

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