The
Delray Beach Open saw four second-round encounters on Saturday, with three seeds bowing out, including the former champion and the top seed, who will not compete in the quarters.
The last year's Rio de Janeiro Open finalist Gianluca Mager took down the former Delray Beach champion Sam Querrey 7-6, 6-1 in an hour and 22 minutes. Querrey led 5-3 in the first set and had a set point in the tie break, wasting all that and losing breaker 10-8. He faded from the court in set number two to propel the Italian over the top.
Sam converted the sixth break chance in the sixth game to move 4-2 ahead, serving for the set at 5-3 and suffering a break at love to keep Gianluca in contention. Mager saved that set point at 5-6 in the tie break and seized his third opportunity at 9-8 for a massive boost. The Italian fended off break chances at the beginning of the second set and grabbed a double break in games four and six that carried him over the top.
World no. 789 Christian Harrison is through to his first ATP quarter-final, ousting the top seed
Christian Garin 7-6, 6-2 in an hour and 30 minutes. Christian survived a slow start and prevailed 7-3 in the opening set's tie break, earning momentum after an hour and storming over Garin in set number two for his career-best victory and the place in the last eight.
The young American Sebastian Korda ousted the 5th seed Tommy Paul 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, playing better and better as the match progressed to remain on the title course. Paul secured two breaks in the opening set and wasted the remaining five opportunities in sets two and three, allowing Korda to find the rhythm and impose his strokes. The young gun took 22 of the last 30 points in the decider to find himself over the top and into the last eight.
John Isner took down Thiago Monteiro 6-4, 7-6 in an hour and 33 minutes, blasting 22 aces and dropping 16 points in 11 service games. Monteiro gave his best to remain in touch, suffering a late break in the opener's game ten and pushing John to the limits in set number two before the American wrapped it up in the tie break to win the first match of the season.
Delray Beach Open 2021 Saturday's results:
[Q]Christian Harrison (USA) vs [1]Christian Garin (CHI) 7-6(3) 6-2
Gianluca Mager (ITA) vs [6]Sam Querrey (USA) 7-6(8) 6-1
Sebastian Korda (USA) vs [5]Tommy Paul (USA) 4-6 6-3 6-2
[2]John Isner (USA) vs Thiago Monteiro (BRA) 6-4 7-6(4)