Bobby Reynolds knows his place in the professional tennis world.

He's good enough —- and ranked high enough —- to ensure his spot in some ATP tournaments like Indianapolis earlier this month, a midlevel hardcourt event that attracts some of the top Americans but not the Roger Federers and Rafael Nadals of the world.

But Reynolds' ranking, No. 92 in the world, wasn't strong enough to get him into the Masters Series event in Toronto last week and the Cincinnati tournament this week.

So the 26-year-old Acworth resident instead returns to tennis' minor leagues, where he tries to win more matches and improve his ranking.

Reynolds is not the up-and-coming tennis hot shot —- really, he never was —- and he's not the future of American tennis.

But he lives his dream every day he steps onto the court. If he's in Lexington, Ky., playing in a Challenger event in front of a handful of spectators or advancing to the third round of Wimbledon, he loves the chance he's been given.

Even if he's practical about his career.

"I have to be realistic," Reynolds said after his first-round win at the Indianapolis Tennis Championships earlier this month (he eventually lost in the quarterfinals). "I feel like I've gotten better as the years have gone on, but to be [ranked] in the top 20, those guys have something that's just amazing. You don't see too many guys who are 26 or 27 breaking into the top 20 for a couple years. With that being said, I can go anywhere from 40-75."

It's certainly not out of the question. In April, he rose to No. 77, his best-ever ranking, and that was a result of winning back-to-back Challenger events. Also, consider this: He didn't earn many rankings points this time last year, so, because of the way the ATP rankings are calculated, Reynolds has a good chance to improve his standing the rest of this season.

His ranking also is high enough that he doesn't have to worry about earning a wild card into the U.S. Open next month. He's already in. All of that is why Reynolds feels confident about himself, even at his (relatively speaking) advanced age.

He's not going to get himself into trouble, though. He doesn't plan to focus strictly on an ATP tournament schedule, and he will continue to play Challenger-level events. Reynolds learned his lesson the last time he tried the all-ATP career move.

"I did that two years ago," said Reynolds, who splits his free time between Atlanta and with his fiancee in Charleston, S.C. "I got to around 80 and I played all ATPs. I'd win a round and lose. And win a round and lose. You don't get a lot of matches, and you don't get match tough. You win one and lose or you lose in the first round or you play someone and you take them to a third set. You feel like you're right there, but you kind of doubt yourself. I'm not going to go out here and compete with the top, top players who are more talented and have more experience."

He's wrong there. That's exactly what happened at Wimbledon this year as he beat Canada's Frank Dancevic to advance to the third round. He looked around, but there were no other Americans left in the draw.

"I was so happy to be in the third round and I thought I was playing well," said Reynolds, who then lost to Feliciano Lopez. "But then you look at that, it's not good for American tennis. I'm the one that's left."

See, he's realistic —- and funny.

"He's a great example of the kind of kid I love helping," No. 8 James Blake said. "I love his attitude. He wants to get better. He works hard. He's realistic he might not ever be a top-10 player. But he's going to get the most out of his talent."

Said Rajeev Ram, who made the doubles semifinals with Reynolds in Indianapolis: "It's been so exciting to watch him progress. He's improved so much in just the last year. It's been good for me to watch the way he's played. It's been a motivator for me."

Reynolds doesn't need the motivation. He loves the game, and he loves making a nice living on the tennis court. He probably won't ever make the top 10, but to Reynolds that's OK.

"I don't look and say, 'If I don't make it to the top 40 [ranking], then I've had a bad career,' " Reynolds said. "It's been amazing to be out here and call this my job.

"If I never break 77 again in two or three years, I'll reassess and see if I love what I'm doing. At this point, I do. To be outside and basically entertaining a crowd, people would give anything to do that. Obviously, I relish it when I'm out there. I still love it."