John Isner signs up for Delray Beach 2012 – Tennis News
American giant John Isner has been added to the star lineup for the 2012 Delray Beach event. Ranked 18th in the world, Isner is the second American to join the lineup following the former world number one hard hitter,
Andy Roddick.
Joining these professional superstars are the Old Ones as well including Ivan Lendl and the Tennis Hall of Famer Michael Chang. A combined event with the ATP Champions Tour, the Delray Beach International Tennis Championship showcases
some of the biggest names of today and the yester years.
In a press conference, tournament director Mark Baron said of the latest additions, "The addition of fan-favorite John Isner and perennial top 10 Michael Chang gives us strong fields already. Our ATP Champions Tour field is set,
and we are expecting our ATP World Tour event to be the best in our history by the time our final draw is announced."
Also coming to the event are other big names including Grand Slam champions, Aussie Pat Cash, Swede Mats Wilander and South African sensation Johan Kriek.
Sporting a 36-21 win loss mark for the season, the nearly seven feet high American wraps up 2011 with two titles, claiming this to be his best season yet. As impressive as his season had been, Isner made a terrible debut at Delray
Beach in 2011. Ranked 32nd in the world then, Isner failed to make it past the first round as he lost to then 76th ranked, Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia in three sets.
However, his debut appearance aside, Isner made huge ripples in the tennis world this season. Not blooming till post Wimbledon, Isner won his first title of the season of the season as he made it all the way to the finals and defeated
Olivier Rochus in straight sets. Strengthening his ranking, Isner backed his title win with a final appearance at Atlanta though he fell to compatriot Mardy Fish in the final match. Taking his semi-final showing at Washington a step further, Isner clinched
his second title of the season at Winston-Salem defeating Julien Benneteau. To top it off, the American giant also made it to the quarterfinal at Flushing Meadows and the final four at BNP Paribas Masters falling to Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga respectively.
An ATP 250 event, the 2012 Delray Beach International Tennis Championship will be playing in its 20th edition at the Delray Beach Stadium and Tennis Centre from late February to early March.
Tags: