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Home , Delray Beach Open, Dennis Novikov, Matthew Ebden, Mikhail Kukushkin, Noah Rubin (tennis), Sam Groth

: DAY 2 MEDIA NOTES Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Delray Beach Stadium & Center, , USA | February 15 – 21, 2016 Draw: S-32, D-16 | Prize Money: $576,900 | Surface: Hard

ATP Info: Tournament Info: ATP PR & Marketing: www.ATPWorldTour.com www.yellowtennisball.com Joshua Rey: [email protected] @ATPWorldTour @DelrayBeachOpen Press Room: +1 561-330-6037 facebook.com/ATPWorldTour facebook.com/DelrayBeachOpenbyTheVenetian

ANDERSON, FRITZ AND DEL POTRO HEADLINE DAY 2 AT DELRAY BEACH

DAY 2 PREVIEW: Two former champions top the billing on Day 2, with six Americans also set to appear on Stadium Court. Top seed returns to Delray Beach for his seventh straight Delray Beach appearance (14-5 record). The 2012 winner (d. Matosevic) has advanced to the quarter-finals or better in four of the past five years: 2011 (QF), 2012 (W), 2013 (QF), 2014 (F) and 2015 (2R). The 29- year-old South African, who lives in nearby Gulf Stream, has been bothered by a left knee injury and is playing for the first time since retiring in the 1R at the vs. Ram. The World No. 14 faces in 1R, having faced the American at the same stage en route to the title in 2012.

Wild card entry Juan Martin del Potro makes his return to Delray Beach for the first time since 2011, and to the ATP World Tour for the first time since March 2015. Last year the former World No. 4 played in two tournaments – Sydney (QF) and Miami (1R) before undergoing left wrist surgery on Jan. 20 and on June 18. This is the 27-year-old Argentine’s second appearance in Delray Beach. Five years ago he came in ranked No. 166 and won the title without dropping a set (d. Tipsarevic). It was his fifth tournament that year after returning from right wrist surgery, which he underwent on May 4, 2010. The 2009 US Open champion defends his unbeaten record (5-0) in Delray Beach against American , who reached a career-high No. 59 in the Emirates ATP Rankings last week.

Special exempt entry 18-year-old , who reached first career ATP World Tour final on Sunday at Memphis (l. to Nishikori), is the youngest player in the draw. The Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. native is playing in only his fourth career ATP World Tour level tournament. In his young career he has already won three Challenger titles. He finished as the No. 1 junior in the world last year, winning the US Open and reaching Roland Garros final. He faces fellow American Tim Smyczek having beaten the World No. 129 on their only previous meeting, on the Challenger Tour in Fairfield, Calif. last year.

Fritz isn’t the only American teenager in action on Day 2: 19-year-old wild card makes his Delray Beach debut against ’s in the same month he reached the world’s top 250 for the first time. In the day’s other American-Australian showdown, faces , looking for his ninth win of the season after reaching the QF or better at three of his four tournaments so far in 2016.

DAY 2 FEDEX ATP HEAD 2 HEADS – In Order of Play by Court

STADIUM COURT

[WC] Noah Rubin (USA) vs Sam Groth (AUS) First Meeting

Rubin FastFacts: 2016 Highlights: YTD W-L: 1-1 (1-1 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: February 21, 1996 Emirates ATP Ranking: 245 Delray Beach W-L (Best Result-Year): Debut

 The 19-year-old is making his tournament debut  Reached ATP World Tour top 250 for first time after reaching 2R on Australian Open debut (d. No. 18 Paire, l. to Herbert), his first tour-level win Delray Beach Open Day 2 – Tuesday, February 16, 2016 Page 2 of 5 www.ATPWorldTour.com

 In 2015, claimed first Challenger title as a qualifier at Charlottesville (d. Paul) and made one ATP World Tour main draw appearance (Newport, l. 1R to Ito)  Former junior Wimbledon champion (2014, d. Kozlov)

Groth FastFacts: 2016 Highlights: YTD W-L: 1-4 (1-4 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: October 19, 1987 Emirates ATP Ranking: 76 Delray Beach W-L (Best Result-Year): 0-2 (1R 2014, ’15)

 The 28-year-old is looking for his first win at Delray Beach after 1R losses in 2014 (as qualifier, l. to Karlovic) and 2015 (l. to Lu)  Only win of the season to date came at Australian Open (d. Mannarino, l. 2R to No. 2 Murray)  Fell in 1R in Brisbane (l. to Chung), Sydney (l. to Delbonis) and Memphis (l. to Marchenko)  In 2015, Aussie improved year-end Emirates ATP Ranking for 4th straight season  Achieved career-high rankings in singles and doubles. Reached No. 53 in singles on August 10 after run to Washington QF. Rose to No. 24 in doubles on February 2 after advancing to Australian Open 3R w/Butorac  Compiled career-best 19 wins on ATP World Tour and 11 more on ATP Challenger Tour  Right foot injury forced premature end to season. Retired in Tokyo 1R (l. to Chardy), then withdrew from ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai and Vienna

[1] Kevin Anderson (RSA) vs Austin Krajicek (USA) Anderson Leads 2-0 12 Delray Beach (U.S.A.) Hard R32 Kevin Anderson 6-1 6-4 15 US Open (U.S.A.) Hard R64 Kevin Anderson 6-3 6-4 6-2 Other meetings: 08 U.S.A. F4 (U.S.A.) Hard R32 Kevin Anderson 6-4 6-4

Anderson FastFacts: 2016 Highlights: QF: Auckland (l Sock) YTD W-L: 1-2 (1-2 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 3 Date of Birth: May 19, 1986 Emirates ATP Ranking: 14 Delray Beach W-L (Best Result-Year): 14-5 (Winner 2012)

 The 29-year-old former champion (2012, d. Matosevic) returns for the seventh time, having also reached the final in 2014 (l. to Cilic)  Best result of the year was QF at Auckland (bye, d. Haase, l. to Sock) before retiring with a left knee injury in Australian Open 1R (vs. Ram), his last tournament  In 2015, South African enjoyed year-end best finish at No. 12 in Emirates ATP Rankings  Reached career-high No. 10 on October 12 shortly after advancing to 1st QF at US Open (d. No. 3 Murray, l. to No. 5 Wawrinka)  Became 1st South African in Top 10 since Ferreira during week of May 5, 1997  Captured 3rd career title and snapped 7-match losing streak in finals by winning Winston-Salem (d. Herbert)  Enjoyed career-high 46 wins, his 5th straight season with 30+ victories (previous-best 42 in 2011)

Krajicek FastFacts: 2016 Highlights: YTD W-L: 2-4 (2-3 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: June 16, 1990 Emirates ATP Ranking: 103 Delray Beach W-L (Best Result-Year): 0-1 (1R 2012)

Delray Beach Open Day 2 – Tuesday, February 16, 2016 Page 3 of 5 www.ATPWorldTour.com

 The 25-year-old returns after exiting in 1R as a qualifier is his tournament debut in 2012 (l. to eventual champion Anderson)  Opened season with 2R appearances at Chennai (l. to Coric) and Australian Open (l. to No. 7 Nishikori) before 1R exits at Quito (l to Carballes Baena) and Memphis (l. to Millman)  In 2015, American improved his year-end ranking for 4th straight season, finishing at No. 105  Achieved career-high No. 94 on October 26 after reaching Las Vegas, USA Challenger QF (l. to Novikov 76 in 3rd)  Advanced to 1st 2 ATP World Tour QFs as a qualifier at Memphis (d. Karlovic, l. to No. 5 Nishikori in 3 sets) and Tokyo (d. Sousa, l. to No. 4 Wawrinka)  Earned 1st Grand Slam win as WC at US Open (d. Giraldo, l. to Anderson) and 1st ATP Masters 1000 win as Q at Miami (d. Istomin, l. to Tomic)

Rajeev Ram (USA) vs [2] Bernard Tomic (AUS) First Meeting

Ram FastFacts: 2016 Highlights: YTD W-L: 2-4 (1-3 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 2 Date of Birth: March 18, 1984 Emirates ATP Ranking: 89 Delray Beach W-L (Best Result-Year): 0-1 (1R 2010)

 The 31-year-old is playing here for the fifth time and making his second main draw appearance, having lost in 1R in 2010 (l. to Odesnik). Lost in qualifying three other times (2008-09, ’11)  Opened season with 1R exit at Chennai (l. to Krajicek) before 2R appearances at Australian Open (l. to Robert) and Quito (l. to Ramos-Vinolas) and a 1R exit in Memphis (l. to Kudla)  In 2015, American finished in year-end Top 100 of Emirates ATP Rankings for 1st time since 2009  Captured 2nd career ATP World Tour title in Newport, winning 3 matches 76 in 3rd, edging Isner in 1R (saved 1 MP), Mannarino in QF (saved 2 MPs) and Karlovic in final. Afterwards, climbed from No. 161 to No. 86 in Emirates ATP Rankings  One of 3 American winners on ATP World Tour along with Sock (Houston) and Isner (Atlanta)

Tomic FastFacts: 2016 Highlights: SF: Brisbane (l Raonic); QF (2): Sydney (l Gabashvili), Quito (l Lorenzi) YTD W-L: 8-4 (7-3 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 3 Date of Birth: October 21, 1992 Emirates ATP Ranking: 20 Delray Beach W-L (Best Result-Year): 5-2 (SF 2015)

• The 23-year-old is back in the main draw for the third time after reaching SF last year (l. to Young) and QF in 2012 (l. to Isner) • Reached a new career-high ranking of No. 17 after opening season with SF appearance in Brisbane (l. to eventual champion Raonic) before ret. in QF at Sydney (l. to Gabashvili w/illness), then reaching 4R at Australian Open (l. to No. 2 Murray) and QF at Quito (l. to Lorenzi) • In 2015, Aussie finished season at career-best year-end ranking of No. 18, which he reached after advancing to ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai QF (d. No. 8 Ferrer and No. 11 Gasquet, l. to No. 1 Djokovic) • Won 2nd straight Bogotá title and 3rd ATP World Tour title overall in July (d. Mannarino) • Secured career-best 40 victories (previous-best 26 in 2012)

Delray Beach Open Day 2 – Tuesday, February 16, 2016 Page 4 of 5 www.ATPWorldTour.com

[SE] Taylor Fritz (USA) vs [WC] Tim Smyczek (USA) First ATP Meeting Other meeting: 15 Fairfield CH (USA) Hard R16 Taylor Fritz 6-2 6-3

Fritz FastFacts: 2016 Highlights: F: Memphis (l Nishikori) YTD W-L: 4-2 (4-2 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: October 28, 1997 Emirates ATP Ranking: 102 Delray Beach W-L (Best Result-Year): Debut

 The 18-year-old is making his tournament debut  Playing first event since reaching first ATP World Tour final in Memphis (l. to No. 7 Nishikori). Opened the season with title at the Happy Valley Challenger (d. Sela) before qualifying at Australian Open (l. 1R to Sock in five sets)  Comes in ranked a career-high No. 102 and if he reaches the 2R, is projected to crack the Top 100 next week. One year ago at this time ranked No. 937  In 2015, American finished as 2nd-youngest player in Emirates ATP Rankings Top 200 behind 17- year-old countryman Tiafoe  Rose nearly 1,000 places from 2014 year-end No. 1141 to 2015 year-end No. 177  Also finished season as World No. 1 in ITF Junior Rankings  Reached QF or better at all 4 junior Grand Slams, highlighted by US Open title (d. Paul) and Roland Garros final (l. to Paul)  Captured 1st Challenger title at Sacramento, USA as WC, beating Brown 67 76 76 in 2R before defeating Donaldson in final  Earned SE into following week’s Fairfield, USA Challenger, where he did not drop a set and repeated win over Brown in final  Enjoyed 17-match win streak overall including US Open junior and Challenger titles

Smyczek FastFacts: 2016 Highlights: YTD W-L: 1-2 (1-2 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: December 30, 1987 Emirates ATP Ranking: 129 Delray Beach W-L (Best Result-Year): 2-4 (2R 2012, ’15)

• The 28-year-old is making his 5th main-draw appearance, having reached 2R for the second time last year (l. to Dolgopolov; also 2012, l. to Tomic) • Opened season at Australian Open (l. 2R to Troicki) before reaching SF of Dallas Challenger (l. to Edmund) and 1R exit at Memphis (l. to Dzumhur) • In 2015, American finished in Top 150 for 4th straight season • Achieved career-high ranking of No. 68 on April 6 after winning 1R match at ATP Masters 1000 Miami (d. Menendez-Meceiras) • Went 25-9 on ATP Challenger Tour with titles at Dallas, USA (d. Ram) and Tiburon, USA (d. Kudla 76 in 3rd)

[WC] Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) vs Denis Kudla (USA) First Meeting del Potro FastFacts: 2016 Highlights: YTD W-L: 0-0 (0-0 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 18 Date of Birth: September 23, 1988 Emirates ATP Ranking: 1041 Delray Beach W-L (Best Result-Year): 5-0 (Winner 2011)

Delray Beach Open Day 2 – Tuesday, February 16, 2016 Page 5 of 5 www.ATPWorldTour.com

 The 27-year-old is playing here for the second time after winning the title on debut in 2011 (d. Tipsarevic)  Playing for the first time following 11-month absence with left wrist injury, dating back to ATP Masters 1000 Miami 1R (l. to Pospisil)  Underwent two wrist surgeries on January 20 2015 and June 18, 2015 at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, USA  In 2015, Argentine finished outside Top 100 of Emirates ATP Rankings for 3rd time in 6 years due to wrist injuries (right wrist required surgery in 2010)  Only played 4 matches all season, reaching Sydney QF (d. Stakhovsky and Fognini, l. to Kukushkin) and falling in 1R at ATP Masters 1000 Miami (l. to Pospisil)  Announced split with longtime coach Franco Davin on July 24

Kudla FastFacts: 2016 Highlights: YTD W-L: 3-3 (3-3 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: August 17, 1992 Emirates ATP Ranking: 65 Delray Beach W-L (Best Result-Year): 1-2 (2R in 2015)

• The 23-year-old reached 2R last year (l. to Mannarino) on his second main-draw appearance (also 2012, l. !r to Sela) • So far this season, reached 2R at Brisbane (l. to Thiem), Australian Open (l. to Seppi) and Memphis (l. to Kukushkin) • In 2015, American finished inside Top 100 of Emirates ATP Rankings for 1st time at No. 69 • Achieved career-high ranking of No. 65 on October 12 after reaching Sacramento, USA Challenger SF (l. to Donaldson) • As Wimbledon wild card, beat Cuevas, A. Zverev and Giraldo en route to Grand Slam-best 4R (l. to Cilic). Was 1st American to reach 4R since 2012 (Baker and Fish)

COURT 1

Matthew Ebden (AUS) vs [5] Jeremy Chardy (FRA) Chardy Leads 2-0 12 US Open (U.S.A.) Hard R64 Jeremy Chardy 6-4 6-2 6-2 14 Acapulco (Mexico) Hard R32 Jeremy Chardy 7-5 6-0

[6] (USA) vs (AUS) First Meeting

[Q] (JPN) vs [Q] Dennis Novikov (USA) First Meeting

Sam Querrey (USA) vs (NED) First Meeting

COURT 4

[Q] (MDA) vs (GER) First Meeting

Damir Dzumhur (BIH) vs Ricardas Berankis (LTU) Berankis Leads 2-0 14 BIH vs. LTU EAGII 3rd Rd. (Bosnia & Herzegovina) Hard RR Ricardas Berankis 6-4 6-4 6-4 16 Memphis (U.S.A.) Hard R16 Ricardas Berankis 6-3 6-4 Other meetings: 14 Brisbane Q (Australia) Hard -- Ricardas Berankis 6-3 6-4

Marcel Granollers (ESP) vs (UKR) First Meeting

Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) vs [7] (USA) Kukushkin Leads 1-0 11 Basel (Switzerland) Hard R32 6-4 6-2