The Tennis Traveler: Don’t sleep on the Delray Beach Open

The Australian Open set us up for a wild year of tennis ahead, and luckily for U.S.-based tennis fans, the tournaments are trickling this way.

A newly-upgraded ATP 500 event in Dallas, Texas just ended, and in two weeks’ time, the long-awaited Sunshine Double will host the best of the best in the first combined ATP and WTA 1000-level tournaments of the year in Indian Wells, Calif., and Miami, Fla.

Somewhere in between Texas and one thousand, however, is the slept-on ATP 250 Delray Beach Open.

Starting on Monday, Feb. 10, Coco Gauff's hometown will host some of the biggest names in American men’s tennis including Taylor Fritz and Reilly Opelka, veteran players like Kei Nishikori and Cameron Norrie, and young guns on the block like Matteo Arnaldi, Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien.

But tennis vibes were already spicing up the city before the main draw began, as the tournament has been hosting ongoing experiences for fans and Floridians alike.

That’s right, Miami Open: You’re not the only Florida-based tennis tournament putting on a show.

Since Feb. 7, the DBO has at least one action-packed tennis event or clinic. From “Mixed Doubles Mega-Mixer” to “Love Serving Autism," a tennis day for every player awaits.

USTA Florida held a sold-out Family Day on Saturday, Feb. 8, where tennis games, stations, challenges and open play awaited kids ages 5 to 12. Youth tennis players from the Delray Beach Youth Foundation were invited to participate, and the ticket even included access to legends and ATP qualifying matches during the tournament.

Did we mention the legends' event yet? Juan Martin del Potro, the Bryan brothers, Sam Querrey and Tommy Haas are only a few of the big names making appearances in Delray Beach.

The best part? All of these experiences aren’t put together for the sake of drawing out sales. A lot of effort went into producing quality happenings at the tournament site, because even for an ATP 250 event, the stakes are high.

For example, BOAST, the event's official sponsor, has made it part of their mission to support Family Day on Feb. 8. Their ball crew uniforms emanate “one of the most rigorous jobs on the court,” a responsibility that BOAST takes upon themselves to provide premium performance apparel.

Once worn by Donald Young, BOAST is making a comeback in tennis apparel, preserving the tradition of tennis fashion while looking ahead to the future.

With tennis fashion on an upward trend (thank you, *Challengers*), the Delray Beach Open is leaning into every aspect of producing a standout tournament experience.

Why wait two whole months for Florida tennis after the Australian Open when Delray Beach has top players, exclusive experiences, and the sunshine spirit just weeks after the first Slam?

Miami is another great tennis excuse for some travel, but it’s about time Delray Beach got some credit of its own.