Rubin Powers Past Groth in Delray Beach

February 17, 2016 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Noah Rubin (17)
Photo Credit: Keith Kowalsky

Long Island’s Noah Rubin continued his impressive start to 2016, saving three match points to hold off big-serving Australian Sam Groth 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(6) on Tuesday and reach the Delray Beach Open second round.

After the two traded sets through the first two, Rubin fought off match points at 4-5 and 5-6 in the third set, before eventually closing Groth out in a deciding tiebreaker.

“This is definitely one of the top five matches all-time for me,” Rubin said afterwards. “I’m looking to carry this momentum and take it through the tournament.”

Up next for Rubin is fifth-seeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, who ousted Matthew Ebden 6-2, 6-1 in his first-round match on Tuesday.

The Delray Beach draw opened up for those who were able to advance, as top seeds Kevin Anderson and Bernard Tomic were bounced from the tournament.

Anderson dropped the first set to American Austin Krajicek in a tiebreaker before retiring with an injury, while American Rajeev Ram cruised past second-seed Bernard Tomic 7-6(3), 6-1.

Krajicek will take on fellow American Sam Querrey next. Querrey defeated Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Ram will square off with Ukraine’s Illya Marchenko, who defeated Spain’s Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-4.

Former U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro got his comeback off to a winning start with a 6-1, 6-4 win over American Denis Kudla. The Argentine, who is returning to the tour after missing about a year while recovering from wrist surgery, didn’t face a single break point and converted on three of his own to ease past Kudla.

“I think winning a match after 11 months is a gift of the tournament for me,” said del Potro. “I’m so excited to keep working because I’m feeling if I do well and if I stay healthy my tennis will be behind me and maybe I can be dangerous one day again.”

Del Potro will face off with Australian John-Patrick Smith, who got past third-seed Ivo Karlovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

Other first-round winners in Delray Beach on Tuesday included Americans Steve Johnson, Donald Young and Tim Smyczek, as well as Tatsuma Ito, Damir Dzumhur and Benjamin Becker. 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
USTA NTC

January/February 2024 Digital Edition