The Atlanta Tennis Championships should offer fans plenty of international flavor on and off the courts.
The main draw includes players from 12 countries and the alternates come from at least 12 more. Overall, players will come from as far away as Australia (Lleyton Hewitt) and Chinese Taipei (Yen-Hsun Lu) to as close as Athens (former Georgia star John Isner) and perhaps Marietta (Robby Ginepri is an alternate). The event will be played July 18-24 at the Racquet Club of the South in Norcross.
“We are very pleased with field,” tournament director Bob Bryant said. “It’s a deep field, competitive field.”
The field includes 12 players who have won at least one ATP event. All-around players include Hewitt, a two-time Grand Slam champion, and Mardy Fish, the defending champ who at No. 9 is the top-ranked U.S. player.
Hard hitters include Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic. Tennis’ tallest player (6-10), Karlovic has the hardest recorded serve in the sport’s history (156 mph). Karlovic is an alternate in the event. If he gets through qualifying, France’s Nicolas Mahut could play Isner in a rematch of the longest match in tennis history. Isner beat Mahut, 70-68, at Wimbledon last year.
Bryant hopes to add at least one player from Georgia and Georgia Tech in the qualifying field.
The ATC is making a change to the event that they hope improves the experience for players and fans. The main court will be played in a sunken-bowl stadium that should raise the noise level and provide excellent sight lines for the fans.
“This year is all about the stadium court, stadium feel,” Bryant said.
Ticket prices haven’t changed from last year, and sales are exceeding last year’s pace. Bryant declined to offer totals, other than to say he hopes they can match last year’s 41,000 sold. Public tickets went on sale June 1.
Off the court, organizers are adding several fan-friendly elements, including a Grand Slam food court that will include foods representing each of the major tournaments.
After playing at the Atlanta Athletic Club last year, the tournament will take advantage of its new home in Norcross. The site includes a beach area for fans who want to sit and relax and other attractions inside the air-conditioned Racquet Club where fans can beat the heat. Another attraction will be three stages that Bryant hopes will feature local bands.
“There will be a tennis-themed festival going on around the competition,” Bryant said.
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Atlanta Tennis Championships
When: July 18-24
Where: Racquet Club of the South, Norcross
Defending champ: Mardy Fish
Tickets: Call 1-678-495-3279, email tickets@atlantatennischampionships.com or go to atlantatennischampionships.com
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