$477,900 up for grabs as Men’s Tennis takes over Atlantic Station
Saturday July 14 was the opening day of play with singles qualifying taking place at the BB&T Atlanta Open Tennis Championships. This event will feature many of the World’s top ranked tennis players including #10 and top seed John Isner, #13 defending Champion Mardy Fish, and former #1 Andy Roddick. The winner of the singles main draw will take home $86,270.00, while the total prize money equals $477,900.00
While today and Sunday’s matches will feature 32 players fighting for the 4 remaining spots to play in the main draw, the tournament is literally taking over the very crowded grounds of Atlantic Station. The Stadium Court and United Way Grandstand courts are down the street from L.A. Fitness / Regal Cinema building and behind Dillard’s, while Court #3 and the practice courts are on 17th Street across from the BB&T corporate building.
In addition to the courts, the child themed mini-tennis courts known as the SmashZone is located on 17 ½ Street with many kids packing the area to get in some good play while taking in the tournament. Then you have the Publix Family Zone located between restaurants Strip and Rosa Mexicano. That along with Cadillac’s Car Gallery and numerous vendors such as Your Serve tennis setting up shop — makes Atlantic Station all about TENNIS for the whole week.
Please see our TPR SERVES PICTURE Gallery from Day 1 action on and off the court.
Today’s play featured 16 matches that started from 9 in the morning on 3 tennis courts. The day concluded with the 8:30pm Tournament Draw Party and 9pm concert with Sister Hazel in the Publix Family Zone.
Here are the results from the first round of qualifying:
( ) – notes qualifying tournament seeding
WC – notes wildcard entry to tournament
Def. – notes defeats
Ret’d – notes retired due to injury or exhaustion
MENS SINGLES – 1st Round Qualifying
(1) Ruben Bemelmans (Belgium) def. (WC) Eric Graves (USA) 6-2,6-1
(WC) Lukas Dlouhy (Czech Rep) def. (WC) Christopher Eubanks (USA) 7-6(3), 6-0
Olivier Charroin (France) def. Luiz Inaimo (Brazil) 6-3, 6-4
(8) Ricardo Hocevar (Brazil) def. Phillip Simmonds (USA) 7-6(6), 7-5
ONE OF THESE PLAYERS WILL EARN ENTRY INTO THE MAIN DRAW
(2) Ricardas Berankis (Lithuania) def. Ignacio Taboada (USA) 6-2, 6-1
(WC) Drake Bernstein (USA) def. Bradley Cox (USA) 6-3, 5-0 ret’d
(WC) Kevin King (USA) def. (WC) Wil Spencer (USA) 6-4, 6-3
(5) Rik De Voest (South Africa) def. (WC) Nathan Pasha (USA) 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-5
ONE OF THESE PLAYERS WILL EARN ENTRY INTO THE MAIN DRAW
(3) Sergei Bubka (Ukraine) def. (WC) Jack Anton (USA) 6-1, 6-0
Catalin-Ionut Gard (Romania) def. Juan-Carlos Spir (Columbia) 7-6(4) 6-1
Olivier Sajous (Haiti) def. Pierre-Ludovic Duclos (Canada) 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-3
(6) Tim Smyczek (USA) def. (WC) Judd Motz (USA) 6-0, 6-1
ONE OF THESE PLAYERS WILL EARN ENTRY INTO THE MAIN DRAW
(4) Ricardo Mello (Brazil) def. Mikhail Ledovskikh (Russia) 7-5, 7-5
(WC) Mbonisi Ndimande (Zimbabwe) def. (WC) David Span (USA) 6-3, 6-0
Luca Margaroli (Switzerland) def. Eric Sock (USA) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
(7) Alex Kuznetsov (USA) def. Dean O’Brien (South Africa) 6-2, 6-2
ONE OF THESE PLAYERS WILL EARN ENTRY INTO THE MAIN DRAW
-Desmond McLennon
Photography by Kent Foster
TPR
