Fritz’s Quest for Third Delray Beach Open Title Faces a Ruud Awakening

Taylor Fritz, the 2023–24 Delray Beach Open champion, will return again in February on his quest to become the first three-time winner in the event’s 34-year history. The long-running tournament is now into its second generation of players, and one of those carrying on the family tradition will be standing in Fritz’s way: three-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud.

Photo credit: Delray Beach Open.

Ruud’s father and coach, Christian Ruud, played the event in 1998 when it was held in Coral Springs, but Casper won’t remember that — it was seven months before his birth. Twenty-eight years after his father’s appearance, the younger Ruud will make his debut at the ATP 250 Delray Beach Open that runs Feb. 13–22 at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center.

Photo credit: Delray Beach Open.

While Ruud leads the head-to-head with Fritz 3–1, Fritz’s win came in their only meeting on an outdoor hard court like Delray Beach — en route to the final of the 2024 US Open. Ruud has also reached a US Open final, in 2022, the same year he reached the first of two French Open finals and a world ranking of No. 2. Fritz has reached No. 4 and remains in the world’s Top 5, while Ruud is in the Top 15.

Both players have reached career milestones in 2025: Ruud won the biggest title of his career at the Masters 1000 in Madrid, defeating Fritz en route to the clay court title. Fritz reached his first Wimbledon semifinal and won two titles.

Before and after the tournament, Ruud and his father are likely to be found on the beautiful South Florida golf courses. They are known to drive between tournaments to play courses along the way, and Casper has an Instagram account dedicated just to the golfing side of his life.

Watch for more player announcements in the coming weeks as the tournament draws closer!

In 2026, the tournament will feature new food and beverage options and VIP events including the Serve & Savor party, part of the always popular Delray Beach Open Food & Wine Series that hosts over 40 of the top restaurants, food purveyors, and spirit partners in South Florida. All of the Food & Wine Series events sold out in 2025. The 10-day tournament is peppered with parties, special recognition days, clinics and exclusive events. Fans can check out the full list of special events now at DelrayBeachOpen.com so they’re not left on the sidelines come February.

Photo credit: Delray Beach Open.

The 10-day Delray Beach Open will begin with a Fan Fest Weekend Feb. 13–15 featuring a Legends event with a field of the game’s past stars. Qualifying matches will be Feb. 14–15, and singles and doubles main draw action for the ATP 250 event starts Monday, Feb. 16 and concludes with the finals on Sunday, Feb. 22.

Single session tickets and series packages are on sale including Reserved seats and Courtside Box seats that include access to the VIP Clubhouse Lounge, VIP parking and the Box Holders’ Reception. There is limited availability for the Best Seats in the House — director’s chairs right on the court — and the shaded Veranda seats, which this year also include light bites, soft drinks, beer and wine. Visit DelrayBeachOpen.com to purchase tickets.

The Delray Beach Open has been both a launching pad for stardom and a place for the game’s elite to raise the trophy. In addition to Fritz, past Delray Beach champions include former US Open winners Marin Cilic and Juan Martin del Potro, Grand Slam finalists Kei Nishikori and Kevin Anderson, and former top 10 players Frances Tiafoe and Hubert Hurkacz. Other competitors over the previous 33 years of the ATP 250 event include a roster of Hall of Famers and fan-favorites with Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Tommy Haas, Patrick Rafter, Jim Courier, Michael Chang, the Bryan Brothers, the Woodies, Ivan Lendl, Mats Wilander and Jimmy Connors among the most notable.

The Delray Beach stop on the global ATP Tour annually plays in front of over 60,000 fans in addition to reaching television audiences in more than 135 countries over the course of 10 days.

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Written by Toni Woods. Top photo credit: Delray Beach Open.