Rising Stars Nakashima, Tien to Play Delray Beach Open
Two American rising stars, Learner Tien and Brandon Nakashima, will return to the Delray Beach Open when the ATP 250 tournament celebrates its 35th anniversary Feb. 12-21, 2027. Tickets are available at DelrayBeachOpen.com.
Both Tien and Nakashima have risen into the Top 20 of the ATP Rankings this season, with the 20-year-old Tien climbing No. 12 in August and the 25-year-old Nakashima reaching No. 16 following the US Open.
Tien won the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2025, one of two titles he claimed last season, along with the crown in Metz, France. He followed that with a title on clay this May in Geneva. His 2026 season was also highlighted by a Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open, and at ATP Masters 1000s, he was a semifinalist in Montreal and a quarterfinalist in Indian Wells.
The Southern California native is coached by Michael Chang, a member of the Delray Beach Open Wall of Fame who won 34 titles during his career. This will be Tien’s third appearance in Delray Beach, where he was a quarterfinalist earlier this year.
Nakashima, the 2022 Next Gen ATP finals champion, was the winningest player during the ATP’s summer hardcourt swing, going 12-3 with a final at the ATP Masters 1000 in Montreal and semifinal showings at the ATP Masters 1000 in Cincinnati as well as in Washington, D.C.
A native of San Diego, Nakashima won his first ATP title at his hometown event in 2022. He’s reached four other finals in his career. A two-time Delray Beach Open quarterfinalist, Nakashima will be making his fifth appearance at the event.
The Next Gen ATP Finals feature the world’s top eight 20-and-under players each season. In addition to Tien and Nakashima, past winners of the event include Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Earlier this month, American Taylor Fritz committed to return to the Delray Beach Open as he pursues a third title at the event. Currently No. 12 in the ATP Rankings, Fritz owns 11 career titles and reached four finals during the 2026 season.
The Delray Beach Open has also announced the DBO Wildcard Event, hosted by HotelPlanner Tour, which will award one singles qualifying wildcard. The competition will be held Nov. 28-30 at ProWorld Academy (651 Egret Circle, Delray Beach, FL), and the winner will earn a spot in the Delray Beach Open qualifying that begins Feb. 13. For event details, visit app.utrsports.net/events/399556 or email info@hotelplannertennistour.com.
In 2027, the tournament will continue the Delray Beach Open Food & Wine Series (DBOFWS), celebrating its eighth year and hosting dozens of the top restaurants, food purveyors, and spirit partners in South Florida. The 10-day tournament will be filled with multiple special events on site including parties, recognition days, clinics and more. Check out the full list of events at DelrayBeachOpen.com.
The tournament will begin with the Legends Event showcasing tennis greats Andy Roddick, Bob and Mike Bryan, Tommy Haas, Murphy and Luke Jensen, and more on Opening weekend, Feb. 12-14. Roddick will be inducted into the Delray Beach Open Walk of Fame following his Legends match on the evening of Feb. 12.
Qualifying matches will be played Feb. 13-14, and singles and doubles main draw action takes place Feb. 15-21.
The 2026 field was the strongest in tournament history with eight players ranked inside the top 30 and Sebastian Korda defeating Tommy Paul in an all-American final.
