Keller’s Korner - 2025 Delray Beach Open

It was held in Coral Springs and was called America’s Red Clay Championships. Mark’s goal was to bring top old, current, and new tennis talent to the fans. He surely succeeded as in the very first year, Jimmy Connors was a big draw.

In 1999, Mark moved the tennis tournament to the Delray Beach Tennis Center. When I asked him why he moved the tournament 25 miles northeast, Mark explained, “There were so many bugs near the Everglades.” When I looked at a map, I saw the courts were in western Coral Springs that bordered on the Everglades.

Mark renamed the tournament the “Delray Beach Open.” His sons Ivan and Adam help run the DBO. Mark’s official title is Tournament Director. Ivan is the Tournament Chairman and Adam is the Executive Director.

The Baron family grew up in South Florida. Ivan played tennis at the University of Georgia and was briefly on the professional tennis tour. Adam was a lawyer before returning to help with the DBO.

The DBO is a men’s tennis tournament. I asked Mark about having a women’s tournament. He replied, “I would love to have a women’s tournament. The problem is that we would have to extend this tournament by ten days.” When I asked Mark who was the best player to ever appear at the DBO, his response was, “My son, Ivan of course.” That is quite impressive when the DBO has had ten former #1 world ranked players appear.

The 2025 DBO ran from February 7th – February 16th and Miomir Kecmanovic won the Singles by defeating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the finals. This was an upset as the top seed was Taylor Fritz of the United States. Taylor came into the match ranked #4 in the world in singles tennis and won the DBO in 2023 and 2024.

I was particularly interested in talking to Taylor as his great great grandfather was a Jewish man named David May. David founded May Department Stores back in 1877. Years later May Department Stores merged with Macy’s. David was on the maternal side of the Fritz family.

When asked about religion, the 27 year old responded, “I was not brought up Jewish but very aware of the Jewish side to my family.” His mother Kathy Fritz follows Judaism and was ranked 10th in the world in singles. Taylor added, “Both of my parents (Guy and Kathy) played professional tennis and inspired me to play the sport.”

Taylor grew up in California and is the highest ranked American in the world. When asked what his most memorable moment was, Taylor said, “I would say beating Rafael Nadal at Indian Wells.” This occurred in 2022 against the legendary player Rafael Nadel, who was also on a long winning streak that Taylor snapped.

Also, at the 2025 DBO event was Jesse Levine of Boca Raton. He was an outstanding player who retired from the tour in 2014 due to an elbow injury. He was the #1 ranked tennis player for the University of Florida. When I asked Jesse what his most memorable event was, he replied, “Beating Marat Safin at Wimbledon in 2009.” Marat was a former #1 ranked tennis player in the world.

At the DBO, Jesse appeared in the Doubles Legends event. Jesse was teamed with Juan Martín del Potro who played the Bryan brothers (Bob and Mike). The Bryan brothers are the most successful doubles team ever. Being identical brothers and knowing how each other thinks is a clear advantage.

At the DBO legends event, the Bryan brothers defeated Jesse & Juan. Ironically, at the 2009 U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships, Jesse and his partner Ryan Sweeting went all the way to the finals before losing to the Bryan brothers. Speaking of doubles, Miomir Kecmanovic (who won the singles) teamed with Brandon Nakashima, to win the doubles championship over Christian Harrison and Evan King, at this year’s DBO. Large crowds attended this year’s event and the Baron family, and the South Florida community and fans can certainly count on and look forward to continued success year after year with their always well run and exciting event.

Neil Keller is a Jewish historian. To learn who is Jewish, visit his website at: www.NeilKeller.com