First-time partners take ATC doubles
Scott Lipsky and Rajeev Ram won the Atlanta Tennis Championships doubles title on Sunday, beating Rohan Bopanna and Kristof Vliegen in a match tiebreaker, 6-3, 6-7 (4), (12-10).
Lipsky and Ram played as doubles partners for the first time in their careers. It's the fourth doubles title for Ram and third for Lipsky.
The players said they likely will keep their partnership intact. It was a week for new unions for Lipsky. He got married last Saturday, then came to Atlanta for the tournament.
Said Lipsky of his new bride, "She's pretty understanding."
A spot in the Open
Blake Strode won a spot in the U.S. Open qualifying tournament by defeating Cecil Mamiit to win the first U.S. Open national playoffs. Strode, a former Arkansas All-American ranked No. 522 in the world, claimed a tournament that began with more than 850 players and was open to any player, even beginners.
The 16 sectional winners played it out this week at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Strode, who has twice deferred Harvard Law School to pursue a professional career, won 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1).
"For this point in my tennis career, this is really great," Strode said. "I feel like I've sort of stagnated, (so) for this to happen, it's sort of a recognition for all my hard work. It's pretty special."
Notable net stuff
Following the final, John Isner said that he intends to play the ATC "for a long time." … Sunday's final drew 4,341, the third-highest figure for the week. For the week, in 11 sessions, the tournament drew 39,813. … Caroline Price, the daughter of former Georgia Tech basketball star Mark Price, won the U.S. Tennis Association's Girls' 18s clay court championships Sunday in Memphis, Tenn. Price defeated another Atlantan, Whitney Kay, 6-3, 6-3. ... With temperatures in the mid-90s, it was atypically hot throughout the tournament. According to the National Weather Service, the average high for the past 30 years for July 24 is 90 degrees. Saturday, the high was 96 degrees and the heat index was 105 degrees.