“Delpo,” the affectionate nickname for tennis superstar Juan Martin del Potro, dominated the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships held February 18 through 27, winning the title by defeating Janko Tipsarevic in the singles final before a crowd of almost 4,700 fans.
Delpo didn’t falter throughout the weeklong tournament, in spite of right wrist surgery, winning every set of the tournament by varying his incredibly strong forehand with flat drives and short angles. With this win, he rose to #85 in the world, three weeks after he was #484, earning 250 ranking points, $76,500 and a Porsche Carrera 911 for winning this tournament.
Ivan Baron, Tournament Chairman, said, “This year’s Championships set an attendance record with almost 64,000 fans over the 10-day tournament. And we’re expecting an even larger crowd for next year’s event, the world’s only combined 10-day ATP Champions Tour and ATP World Tour Event, to be held Feb. 24 – March 4, 2012.”
Community and charity were a strong component, as always, in this year’s event, featuring a Pro-Am tournament that benefited the Pathfinders Scholarship Fund & Tico Torres Children’s Foundation. Fort Lauderdale CBRE real estate broker Scott Allen won the Pro-Am, after fighting through an elbow injury and sleepless nights with the birth of his first child, Jake Peter Allen. Allen’s wife Allison, onemonth old baby Jake, mother Jane Nader and mother-in-law Elaine Adler were there to cheer him on. Dennis Collins, executive with Lincoln Financial Media radio stations, also participated in the Pro-Am.
For more information about the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships, visit YellowTennisBall.com or call (561) 330-6000.
