Delray Beach Open Begins with Champions Tour

January 4, 2021 | By Press Release
Bryan Brothers (63)
Photo Credit: Brian Coleman

 

The 2021 Delray Beach Open gets underway on Monday with two matches for the ATP Champions Tour.

The two matches are:

ATP Champions Tour • Not Before 6:00 p.m.

Johan Kriek & Mark Merklein vs. Luke & Murphy Jensen

ATP Champions Tour • Not Before 8 p.m.

Bob & Mike Bryan vs Tommy Haas & Jesse Levine

The Bryans retired last summer after playing their final ATP Tour event at the Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com in February where they claimed the tournament title for the second year in a row. The California twins will captain Team Bryans in their ATP Champions Tour debut. They will face Team Jensens, which will be captained by brothers Luke and Murphy Jensen. The teams of Grand Slam winning siblings will square off in the final match of the Champions Tour event in Delray Beach.

“We’re excited to get back to Delray Beach,” said Bob Bryan. “We have enjoyed playing there over the years and look forward to starting this next chapter of our career where we had a successful finish to our touring days.”

Mike Bryan added, “It will be a lot of fun to be back on the court, but I’m especially looking forward to playing the Jensens. I’m sure they’ll be fired up to play us, but hopefully being some of the youngest guys on the ATP Champions Tour will be to our advantage!”

Team Bryans will also feature Wayne Ferreira, Johan Kriek, Mark Merklein and Mikael Pernfors.

“I have no idea why the ATP Champions Tour is having the Jensen Brothers, who have never officially retired, play against a couple of retired dudes,” said Luke Jensen. “I am absolutely out of my mind pumped to get back on the court with the greatest doubles team to ever lace them up. The Bryans made old doubles dogs like us very proud in the way they moved the game forward. But I’m hoping they have forgotten how to play tennis since their retirement!”

Alongside Luke and Murphy, Team Jensens includes 2006 Delray Beach Open singles champion Tommy Haas and Jesse Levine.

There will be six matches contested over four sessions as part of the ATP Champions Tour event. The schedule, which is subject to change, is as follows:


Session 1 – Monday, Jan. 4
6 pm: Johan Kriek & Mark Merklein vs. Luke & Murphy Jensen
Not before 8 pm: Bob & Mike Bryan vs. Tommy Haas & Jesse Levine

Session 2 – Tuesday, Jan. 5
10 am: ATP 250 Qualifying (3 matches)
Not Before 2:30 pm: Wayne Ferreira & Mikael Pernfors vs. Tommy Haas & Jesse Levine

Session 3 – Tuesday, Jan. 5
6 pm: Wayne Ferreira & Mikael Pernfors vs. Luke & Murphy Jensen

Session 4 – Wednesday, Jan. 6
11 a.m.: ATP 250 Qualifying final round match
Not Before 12:30 pm: Wayne Ferreira vs. Tommy Haas
Not Before 2:30 pm: Bob & Mike Bryan vs. Luke & Murphy Jensen


“The ATP Champions Tour is a great way to kick off our event week while we welcome back some very familiar faces to Delray Beach,” said Tournament Director Mark Baron. “One of the unique aspects of the tournament is the opportunity to see generational battles like the Bryans playing the Jensens. We look forward to that and all the matches over the course of the event.”

 


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