Americans Boast Strong Presence in Delray Beach Main Draw

American men are the story at the season-opening Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com this week, with the draw full of home favorites who look to start 2021 on the right foot. 

Leading the way is No. 2 seed and world No. 25 John Isner, who'll take to the courts in Delray for the ninth time in his career and looks to make his first final at the event. Joining Isner amongst the eight seeds are Tommy Paul (No. 5), Sam Querrey (No. 6) and Frances Tiafoe (No. 8). Querrey and Tiafoe are both previous champions, with the 33-year-old Californian winning the title in 2016, and the 22-year-old Tiafoe capturing his first career ATP title at the event in 2018. 

In all, seven Americans received direct acceptance into the main draw, with wild cards JC Aragone, Ryan Harrison and Noah Rubin bringing the total to 10. Other Americans to watch include Sebastian Korda, playing his first tour-level event since a stunning rund to the second week of the French Open last fall, Bjorn Fratangelo and Mackenzie McDonald. 

Six of the 10 feature with Isner in the bottom half of the draw including Korda, who faces South Korea's Kwon Soon-woo in his opening match, with a second-round meeting with Paul potentially on the cards. McDonald faces Querrey in an all-American opener in the top half, with Rubin and Harrison also present on that side.

The event, typically staged in mid-February, was moved to the opening week of the 2021 calendar by the ATP earlier in December. Defending champion Reilly Opelka, as well as headliners Milos Raonic and Andy Murray, were expected in the field, but withdrew over the last week. Cristian Garin of Chile, ranked world No. 22, is the top seed. 

Two Americans will be guaranteed to reach the main draw through qualifying, as five have reached the final round in all. All-American matches between Donald Young and Stefan Kozlov, and Christian Harrison and Zane Khan, are on tap for Wednesday, while Kevin King faces Goncalo Oliveira of Portugal.