Del Potro Returns, Plays Smyczek At Indian Wells Thursday

* DELPO RETURNS: On the first day of play at the BNP Paribas Open, wild card entry Juan Martin del Potro is making his return to Indian Wells for the first time since 2013. This is the 27-year-old Argentine’s sixth appearance in Indian Wells (16-5 record). He’s reached the quarter-finals or better in four of his previous appearances. He reached the quarters in 2009, ’12, semi-finals in ’11 and final in his last visit in ’13. Last year the former World No. 4 played in two tournaments – Sydney (QF) and Miami (1R) before undergoing left wrist surgery on Jan. 20 and on June 18. He returned to action last month in Delray Beach where he advanced to the semi-finals (l. to eventual champ Querrey). Afterwards he jumped from No. 1,042 to No. 420 in the Emirates ATP Rankings.

* SPOTLIGHT ON INDIAN WELLS: The 41st edition of the BNP Paribas Open, the first of nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments this season, gets under way at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Thursday. The star-studded line-up features 43 of the Top 50 players in the Emirates ATP Rankings (17 of the Top 20), with World No. 1 and reigning champion (four times overall) Novak Djokovic leading the way. The other former winner in the field is Rafael Nadal, who captured the title in 2007, ’09, ’13. The tournament was first held in 1976 at nearby Mission Hills in Palm Springs where Jimmy Connors beat countryman Roscoe Tanner in the final.

* DAY 1 PREVIEW: The bottom half of the draw takes center stage on Thursday with 16 men’s singles matches on the order of play. Four of the six teenagers in the draw, part of the Next Generation on the ATP World Tour, are in action as Borna Coric (19) is first up on Stadium 1. The next men’s match is American wild cards Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz (both 18). On Stadium 2, Hyeon Chung (19) makes his debut. In the last match on Stadium 1, wild card Juan Martin del Potro, who reached the final in 2013, returns to the desert. For more information on Thursday’s 1R matches, see page 8.

* NEXT GENERATION: There are eight Next Generation players in the main draw, including six teenagers. This is the most teenagers in the Indian Wells main draw since seven in 2006. Here’s a look at the talented 21 & under group (in age order):

Ranking Age
Frances Tiafoe (WC) No. 177 18 yrs., 1 month
Taylor Fritz (WC) No. 80 18 yrs., 4 months
Alexander Zverev No. 58 18 yrs., 10 months
Borna Coric No. 47 19 yrs., 3 months
Jared Donaldson (WC) No. 158 19 yrs., 4 months
Hyeon Chung No. 64 19 yrs., 9 months
Nick Kyrgios No. 27 20 yrs., 10 months
Kyle Edmund No. 82 21 yrs., 1 month

* MURRAY JOINS FATHERHOOD: Andy Murray, who reached the Indian Wells final in 2009 (l. to Nadal), is playing his first tournament since becoming a father on Feb. 7 with the birth of his daughter, Sophia. Murray opened the season with his fifth runner-up at the Australian Open (l. to Djokovic). Over the weekend he lifted Great Britain to a 3-1 Davis Cup victory over Japan by clinching the 1st round tie with a five-set win over Kei Nishikori. The top four players in the Emirates ATP Rankings are all fathers:

Became Father Titles Won as Father (Overall)
1) Novak Djokovic Oct. 21, 2014 15 (61)
2) Andy Murray Feb. 7, 2016 Indian Wells first tournament
3) Roger Federer July 23, 2009 28 (88)
4) Stan Wawrinka Feb. 12, 2010 12 (13)

DAY 1 FEDEX ATP HEAD 2 HEADS – In Order of Play by Court

STADIUM 1

Borna Coric (CRO) vs Lucas Pouille (FRA) First Meeting

Coric 2016 FastFacts:
F: Chennai (l Wawrinka)
YTD W-L: 7-7 (6-6 on hard, 1-1 on clay)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0
Date of Birth: November 14, 1996
Emirates ATP Ranking: 47
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): 1-1 (2R – 2015)

• The 19-year-old Croat is making his second straight appearance in Indian Wells. One of three Croats (Cilic, Dodig) in main draw. Qualified last year (d. Haider-Maurer, l. to Tomic in 2R)
• Began season by reaching 1st ATP World Tour final at Chennai (d. Bautista Agut 76 in 3rd, l. to No. 4 Wawrinka). Became 1st teen to play in an ATP final since countryman Cilic at 2008 New Haven (d. Fish)
• Spent 9 hours, 29 minutes on court en route to final, nearly 3 times Wawrinka’s 3 hours, 16 minutes
• After falling to Goffin in 5 sets,clinched Croatia’s 3-2 win over Belgium in Davis Cup 1R (d. Coppejans). Croatia will play the U.S. on the road in July in QFs
• Suffered 4-match losing streak after Chennai SF win over Bedene

Pouille 2016 FastFacts:
QF: Brisbane (l Raonic)
YTD W-L: 2-4 (2-4 on hard)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0
Date of Birth: February 23, 1994
Emirates ATP Ranking: 87
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): Main draw debut

• The 22-year-old is making his tournament debut and one of 11 Frenchmen in main draw
• Advanced to 5th ATP World Tour singles QF at Brisbane (d. Goffin, l. to Raonic)
• Reached 1st doubles SF of career at Australian Open w/Mannarino (d. Bolelli/Fognini and Rojer/Tecau, l. to J. Murray/Soares)
• Fell to 0-3 lifetime at Australian Open with 1R loss to Raonic
• Qualified at Dubai (l. to Pospisil in 1R)

[WC] Frances Tiafoe (USA) vs [WC] Taylor Fritz (USA) First ATP Meeting

This is the first professional meeting between the two youngest players in the Top 200 Emirates ATP Rankings and in this year’s draw. They have played three previous times in juniors:

2014 USTA Boys’ 18s Nationals (Kalamazoo) 5th Place Tiafoe d. Fritz 67(1) 63 10-5
2014 Easter Bowl (Indian Wells) QFs Tiafoe d. Fritz 36 76(5) 62
2013 Pan American Final (Tulsa) Final Tiafoe d. Fritz 63 60

ALL TEENAGE MATCH-UPS (since 2000) – This is only the fourth all-teenager match in Indian Wells going back to 2000 and it’s the first in eight years:

2016 1R – Taylor Fritz (18) vs. Frances Tiafoe (18)
2008 1R – Marin Cilic (19) d. Kei Nishikori (18) 62 64
2007 SF – Novak Djokovic (19) d. Andy Murray (19) 62 63
2007 3R – Novak Djokovic (19) d. Evgeny Korolev (19) 62 61

Tiafoe 2016 FastFacts:
YTD W-L: 0-1 (0-1 on hard)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0
Date of Birth: January 20, 1998
Emirates ATP Ranking: 177
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): Main draw debut

• Youngest player in draw (at 18 yrs., 1 mon.) and Top 200 Emirates ATP Rankings at No. 177 is making his tournament debut (also first ATP Masters 1000 tournament)
• Fell 64 in 3rd to countryman Harrison in Memphis 1R after holding 1 MP
• Advanced to consecutive Challenger QFs at Maui (l. to Duckworth) and Dallas, USA (l. to Ito)
• Earned biggest win of career by ranking over No. 77 Groth in Dallas Challenger 1R
• Beat fellow Next Generation player Donaldson in Australian Open qualifying 1R (l. to Gojowczyk in qualifying 2R)

Fritz 2016 FastFacts:
F: Memphis (l Nishikori); QF: Acapulco (l Querrey)
YTD W-L: 6-4 (6-4 on hard)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0
Date of Birth: October 28, 1997
Emirates ATP Ranking: 80 (Career-high)
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): Main draw debut

• Second-youngest player in draw (at 18 yrs., 4 mon.) and Top 200 Emirates ATP Rankings at No. 80 is making his tournament debut (also first ATP Masters 1000 tournament). Last year received a wild card into Indian Wells qualifying (ranked No. 941) and reached 2R (d. Sela, l. to de Bakker)
• Last month advanced to 1st ATP World Tour final in 3rd tour-level event at Memphis as WC (d. Berankis in 3 sets, l. to No. 7 Nishikori). Afterwards jumped from 145 to 102 in Emirates ATP Rankings
• At 18 years, 109 days, became youngest ATP finalist since Nishikori won 2008 Delray Beach (18 years, 50 days)
• Also the youngest American in an ATP final since 17-year-old Chang won 1989 Wembley
• Advanced to 2nd ATP QF at Acapulco as Q (d. Chardy and Estrella Burgos, l. to Querrey). Afterwards broke Top 100 on Feb. 29 at No. 81
• Youngest player in Top 100 of Emirates ATP Rankings, rising to career-high No. 80 on March 7
• Rallied from 04 down in 3rd to beat M. Zverev and qualify for 1st major at Australian Open (l. to Sock in 1R)
• Started season by capturing 3rd ATP Challenger Tour title at Happy Valley, AUS (d. Sela)

[Q] Tim Smyczek (USA) vs [WC] Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) First Meeting

Smyczek 2016 FastFacts:
QF: Delray Beach (l Querrey)
YTD W-L: 3-3 (3-3 on hard)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0
Date of Birth: December 30, 1987
Emirates ATP Ranking: 116
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): 3-6 (2R – 2011, ’14-15)

• The 28-year-old Wisconsin native is making his seventh straight tournament appearance (3-6 record) and his best result is 2R on three occasions – 2011 (d. Marchenko, l. to Kohlschreiber), 2014 (d. Sock, l. to Dolgopolov) and last year (d. Becker, l. to Kohlschreiber). This is 4th time he’s qualified (2010-11-12)
• Last month, advanced to 2nd ATP World Tour QF of career at Delray Beach as WC (d. Fritz and Young, l. to eventual champion Querrey)
• Qualified at Australian Open for 2nd straight year and reached 2R (d. Gimeno-Traver, l. to Troicki)
• Reached Dallas, USA Challenger SF (d. Krueger, Harrison and Matosevic; l. to Edmund)

del Potro 2016 FastFacts:
SF: Delray Beach (l Querrey)
YTD W-L: 3-1 (3-1 on hard)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 18
Date of Birth: September 23, 1988
Emirates ATP Ranking: 420
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): 16-5 (Finalist – 2013)

• The 27-year-old Argentine is making his sixth appearance in Indian Wells, first since 2013 when he reached the final (d. No. 3 Murray, No. 1 Djokovic, l. to Nadal). Also SF in 2011 (l. to Nadal) and QF in 2009 (l. to Nadal) and 2012 (l. to Federer)
• Last month, defeated Kudla, Smith and Chardy at Delray Beach in comeback from wrist surgeries (l. to eventual champion Querrey in SF). Underwent left wrist surgery on Jan. 20 and June 18 last year
• Returned for 1st tournament since 2015 ATP Masters 1000 Miami and 3rd since 2014 Dubai
• Rose from No. 1,042 to No. 420 in Emirates ATP Rankings on February 22 after Delray Beach

STADIUM 2

Nicolas Almagro (ESP) vs Inigo Cervantes (ESP) First Meeting

Almagro 2016 FastFacts:
F: Buenos Aires (l Thiem)
YTD W-L: 6-5 (1-2 on hard, 5-3 on clay)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 12
Date of Birth: August 21, 1985
Emirates ATP Ranking: 61
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): 8-6 (QF – 2012)

• The 30-year-old Spaniard comes in with an 8-6 career record in Indian Wells and his best result is QFs in 2012 (d. No. 7 Berdych, l. to Djokovic). Playing here for 1st time since 2013 (l. to Haas in 3R)
• Advanced to 1st ATP World Tour final since 2014 Houston at Buenos Aires (l. to Thiem 76 in 3rd). Beat No. 9 Tsonga in QF and No. 6 Ferrer in SF to snap 6-match losing streak vs. Top 10 (19-65 overall)
• Reached 2R at Australian Open (l. to Thiem) and Rio de Janeiro (l. to No. 5 Nadal)

Cervantes 2016 FastFacts:
SF: Sao Paulo (l Carreno Busta)
YTD W-L: 5-6 (0-2 on hard, 5-4 on clay)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0
Date of Birth: November 30, 1989
Emirates ATP Ranking: 59 (Career-high)
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): Main draw debut

• The 26-year-old from Javea (birthplace of Ferrer) is one of 11 Spaniards in main draw and making his tournament debut. Ranked a career-high No. 59
• Last month in Sao Paulo, beat 2014 champion Delbonis 76(6) 26 64 in 1st ATP World Tour QF (l. to Carreño Busta in 1st SF)
• Defeated Riba in Quito 1R for 1st tour-level win since 2014 Barcelona (l. to Carreño Busta in 2R)
• Fell to Donskoy in Australian Open 1R, his 1st Grand Slam main draw match since 2012 Wimbledon
• Reached 1st career ATP World Tour doubles final w/Lorenzi at Buenos Aires (l. to Cabal/Farah)

Kyle Edmund (GBR) vs Guido Pella (ARG) First Meeting

Edmund 2016 FastFacts:
QF: Doha (l Berdych)
YTD W-L: 2-2 (2-2 on hard)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0
Date of Birth: January 8, 1995
Emirates ATP Ranking: 82 (Career-high)
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): Main draw debut

• The 21-year-old British No. 3 (behind No. 2 Murray, No. 51 Bedene) is making his Indian Wells debut
• Advanced to 1st ATP World Tour QF of career at Doha as Q (d. Muñoz de la Nava 76 in 3rd, l. to No. 6 Berdych). Then fell in 5 sets to Dzumhur in Australian Open 1R
• Followed run to Maui, USA Challenger final (l. to Wu) with 4th Challenger title at Dallas, USA (d. countryman Evans). Did not drop a set en route to title in Dallas, including wins over Bangoura, McGee, Zemlja and Smyczek
• Achieved career-high No. 82 in Emirates ATP Rankings on February 22

Pella 2016 FastFacts:
F: Rio de Janeiro (l Cuevas)
YTD W-L: 6-4 (2-1 on hard, 4-3 on clay)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0
Date of Birth: May 17, 1990
Emirates ATP Ranking: 40 (Career-high)
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): 0-1 (1R – 2013)

• The 25-year-old Argentine is making his first main draw appearance in Indian Wells since 2013 when he came in as a qualifier (l. to Dodig in 1R). Two years ago, lost in 2R qualifying (l. to Polansky)
• One of eight Argentines in main draw
• Last month, broke through to reach 1st career ATP World Tour final at Rio de Janeiro (d. Thiem, l. to Cuevas in 3 sets). Saved 3 MPs in Rio de Janeiro 1R to beat No. 11 Isner 76(5) 57 76(8)
• Achieved career-high No. 40 in Emirates ATP Rankings on March 7
• Made winning Davis Cup debut to open Argentina’s 3-2 victory over Poland in 1R (d. Przysiezny)
• Earned 1st Australian Open win and 2nd overall at a Grand Slam by beating Darcis in 5 sets. Lost to Lopez 76(2) 67(4) 76(3) 67(8) 64 in 2R

Hyeon Chung (KOR) vs Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) Chung Leads 1-0
15 Nottingham (Great Britain) Grass R64 Hyeon Chung 6-4 7-6(6)

Chung 2016 FastFacts:
YTD W-L: 5-6 (5-6 on hard)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0
Date of Birth: May 19, 1996
Emirates ATP Ranking: 64
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): Main draw debut

• The 19-year-old Korean is making his main draw debut. Countryman Hyung-Taik Lee reached 4R in 2008, best result by a Korean in tournament history
• Last month, earned biggest win of career by ranking over No. 34 Garcia-Lopez in Rotterdam 1R (l. to Troicki in 2R)
• Also advanced to 2R at Brisbane (d. Groth, l. to Cilic) and Dubai (d. Seppi, l. to Bautista Agut)
• Swept 6 sets to defeat Venus and Statham in Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group I (KOR d. NZL 3-1
• Fell to eventual champion Djokovic in 1R of Australian Open debut
• Qualified and earned 1st 2 ATP doubles wins of career at Dubai w/Vesely, falling to Lopez/Lopez in SF

Ramos-Vinolas 2016 FastFacts:
SF: Quito (l Estrella Burgos)
YTD W-L: 5-7 (1-3 on hard, 4-4 on clay)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0
Date of Birth: January 17, 1988
Emirates ATP Ranking: 49
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): 5-3 (3R – 2012, ‘15)

• The 28-year-old Spaniard is making his fourth appearance (5-3 record) and his best result is 3R in 2012 debut (d. No. 16 Gasquet in 2R, l. to Andujar) and last year (l. to Djokovic)
• Last month, rallied from 2-5 down in 3rd set to beat Ram, then upset Lopez en route to Quito SFs (l. to Estrella Burgos)
• Earned 1st win in 5th appearance at Australian Open (d. Coric, l. to Cilic)
• Held 1 MP before falling to Mathieu in 1st match of season at Doha

STADIUM 3

Sam Groth (AUS) vs Leonardo Mayer (ARG) First ATP Meeting

Other meeting:
08 Belo Horizonte CH (Brazil) Hard R16 Leonardo Mayer 6-7(1) 7-6(7) 7-5

Groth 2016 FastFacts:
YTD W-L: 1-7 (1-6 on hard, 0-1 on grass)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0
Date of Birth: October 19, 1987
Emirates 2016 ATP Ranking: 77
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): 0-2 (1R – 2014-15)

• The 28-year-old Aussie is looking for his first main draw win in Indian Wells after 1R losses in 2014 (l. to Kukushkin) as a qualifier and last year (l. to Gimeno-Traver)
• Started 2016 season with 1-7 record, scoring lone win in Australian Open 1R (d. Mannarino, l. to No. 2 Murray)
• Fell to Isner in opening rubber of Davis Cup 1R (USA d. AUS 3-1)
• Held 3 MPs vs. Rubin in Delray Beach 1R before losing 64 46 76(6)
• In doubles, served as partner to Hewitt in countryman’s last match at Australian Open (l. to Pospisil/Sock in 3R)

Mayer 2016 FastFacts:
QF: Doha (l Djokovic)
YTD W-L: 5-5 (4-4 on hard, 1-1 on clay)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 1
Date of Birth: May 15, 1987
Emirates 2016 ATP Ranking: 46
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): 3-2 (3R – 2013)

• The 28-year-old Argentine is making his fourth Indian Wells appearance and his best result is 3R in 2013 (d. Malisse, Youzhny, W/O vs. Nadal due to back injury), his last desert visit. Made debut in 2010 (l. to countryman Dabul) and in 2012 reached 2R (d. Falla, l. to Nadal)
• Extended Davis Cup winning streak to 11 matches by beating Poland’s Hurkacz and Przysiezny in 1R road tie (ARG d. POL 3-2)
• Started season with run to Doha QF (l. to eventual champion Djokovic)
• Went 1-5 in next 6 matches following Doha 2R win over Andujar
• Loss to No. 9 Tsonga in Buenos Aires 2R was 8th straight defeat against a Top 10 opponent (1-24 overall)

Diego Schwartzman (ARG) vs Robin Haase (NED) Haase Leads 1-0
13 Hamburg (Germany) Clay R64 Robin Haase 7-6(3) 4-6 7-5

Schwartzman 2016 FastFacts:
YTD W-L: 3-4 (0-1 on hard, 3-3 on clay)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0
Date of Birth: August 16, 1992
Emirates 2016 ATP Ranking: 84
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): 1-1 (2R – 2015)

• The 23-year-old Argentine is playing in Indian Wells for second straight year after reaching 2R last season (d. Janowicz, l. to Federer)
• Won 1R matches at 3 of 4 events to start 2016 season: Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, all on clay
• Advanced to QF at Canberra, AUS Challenger, retiring down a set to Muñoz de la Nava due to right hand injury
• Retired while leading Millman 63 75 67(2) 05 in Australian Open 1R due to cramping

Haase 2016 FastFacts:
QF: Acapulco (l Dolgopolov)
YTD W-L: 5-7 (5-7 on hard)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 2
Date of Birth: April 6, 1987
Emirates 2016 ATP Ranking: 57
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): 4-6 (3R – 2015)

• The 28-year-old Dutchman is making his sixth straight Indian Wells appearance (seventh overall) and last year turned in a personal-best 3R showing (d. Bolt, No. 7 Wawrinka, l. to Rosol in 3rd set TB). Made his debut in 2008 as a qualifier (d. Vemic, l. to Monaco in 2R)
• In last tournament advanced to QF in Acapulco (d. Patino and Bedene, l. to Dolgopolov)
• Also reached 2R at Doha (l. to No. 5 Nadal), Auckland (l. to Anderson) and Marseille (l. to Cilic)
• Lost in Australian Open 1R for 5th straight season (l. to Basic)

Illya Marchenko (UKR) vs [PR] Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) First ATP Meeting

Other meetings:
12 Izmir CH (Turkey) Hard F Dmitry Tursunov 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 6-3
13 ATP Masters 1000 Rome Q (Italy) Clay — Illya Marchenko 3-4 ret

Marchenko 2016 FastFacts:
SF: Doha (l Nadal); QF: Acapulco (l Tomic)
YTD W-L: 7-5 (7-5 on hard)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0
Date of Birth: September 8, 1987
Emirates ATP Ranking: 72
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): 0-1 (1R – 2011)

• The 28-year-old Ukrainian is making his second main draw appearance in Indian Wells, first since 2011 when he lost to Smyczek in 1R. Since then, lost in 1R qualifying in 2012 and ‘13
• In opening week of season, advanced to 3rd career ATP World Tour SF – 1st since 2010 – at Doha (d. No. 7 Ferrer in 1R, l. to No. 5 Nadal). Win over Ferrer was 1st of career over a Top 10 player (1-5 overall)
• Reached QF in Acapulco (d. Paul and Harrison, l. to Tomic)
• Has already won 7 tour-level matches in 2016, most in a season since winning 18 in 2010

Tursunov 2016 FastFacts:
YTD W-L: 1-2 (1-2 on hard)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 7
Date of Birth: December 12, 1982
Emirates ATP Ranking: 581
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): 4-8 (3R – 2009, ‘14)

• The 33-year-old Russian is making his ninth appearance in Indian Wells and in his last visit two years ago reached 3R (bye, d. Monaco, l. to No. 8 Federer). Also 3R in 2009 (d. Russell, l. to No. 1 Nadal)
• In last tournament, earned 1st singles win since 2014 ’s-Hertogenbosch by beating Groth in Acapulco 1R (l. to eventual champion Thiem in 2R)
• Retired in Australian Open 1R vs. No. 4 Wawrinka with left foot injury, which sidelined him for much of 2015
• Started season by falling in final round of qualifying at Bangkok, THA Challenger (l. to Nielsen)

Rajeev Ram (USA) vs [Q] Noah Rubin (USA) First Meeting

Ram 2016 FastFacts:
F: Delray Beach (l Querrey)
YTD W-L: 6-6 (5-5 on hard, 1-1 on clay)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 2
Date of Birth: March 18, 1984
Emirates ATP Ranking: 63
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): 0-2 (1R – 2010, ‘14)

• The 31-year-old American is looking for his first main draw win after 1R losses in 2010 (l. to Koellerer) and 2014 (l. to Zeballos)
• Last month, defeated Tomic and Dimitrov en route to 3rd ATP World Tour singles final at Delray Beach (l. to Querrey). Afterwards, achieved career-high No. 60 in Emirates ATP Rankings on February 22
• Upset No. 12 Anderson (via retirement), also a former University of Illinois star, in Australian Open 1R (l. to Robert 75 in 5th)
• Earned 1st singles win of career on clay over Zeballos in Quito 1R (l. to Ramos-Viñolas 75 in 3rd)
• In doubles, beat Bryan/Bryan for 1st time in 8 meetings to reach Australian Open QF w/Klaasen (l. to eventual champions J. Murray/Soares 76 in 3rd)

Rubin 2016 FastFacts
YTD W-L: 2-2 (2-2 on hard)
YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0
Date of Birth: February 21, 1996
Emirates ATP Ranking: 205 (Career-high)
Indian Wells W-L (Best Result-Year): Main draw debut

• The 20-year-old American qualified into his first career ATP Masters 1000 tournament with a pair of straight-set wins over Mikhail Ledovskikh and countryman Dennis Novikov. By qualifying into main draw, will pick up 16 Emirates ATP Ranking points and will break Top 200 after Indian Wells
• Has jumped from No. 340 at end of last year to a career-high No. 205 entering tournament
• Opened season with 2R at Canberra Challenger (l. to Donskoy) and followed with 2R at Australian Open where he upset No. 18-ranked Benoit Paire in three tie-breaks (l. to Herbert in 2R)
• Returned to Challenger in Maui and advanced to SF (l. to eventual champion Wu)
• Received wild card into Delray Beach and beat Groth in third set tie-break (saving three MPs) and lost to Chardy in 2R
• Played in U.S. Futures #8 event on clay at end of last month and reached final (l. to Collarini)