With his win in the 2021 Truist Atlanta Open Wildcard Playoffs on Thursday, Atlanta ATP touring pro, Donald Young has earned his way into the qualifying draw that starts play on Saturday, July 24.
Young defeated Auburn University tennis player, Tyler Stice 6-3, 6-2, in 74 minutes on the Grandstand Court at Atlantic Station.
“This is reason we have this wildcard playoff,” explained Truist Atlanta Open presented by Fiserv Tournament Director, Eddie Gonzalez. “We are excited to have Donald. He’s a former top-50 player, has traveled the world playing tennis, but needed this wildcard to get into our event.”
Young joins a qualifying draw that had a cutoff ranking of 135. Both players held serve to 3-3 in the first set when Young’s deep groundstrokes forced errors from Stice.
Young converted his second break point to earn the first break of serve. That appeared to add confidence to the Atlanta resident as he held serve easily and the ended the first set with a break.
The ATP Tour veteran earned an early break to go up 2-1 and started to mainly focus on holding his serve. While the final set may have been 6-2 in favor of Young, the games were close and Stice had a couple opportunities to break serve, but was unable to convert. Young’s serve was never broken and he appeared to thrive in the heat.
“Things change, life changes and the pandemic,” stated Young. “I just haven’t been able to play as much, but thanks to Eddie and the team over here for putting (this qualifier on).” Young will play his first round qualifying match on Saturday.
Limited tickets remain available for nine days of tennis action which will run at Atlantic Station, July 24 – August 1, 2021.
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