Mardy Fish, at No. 9 the highest ranked U.S. player in the world, was one of four players to receive a bye for the first round of the Atlanta Tennis Championships when the draws were announced Saturday.
Joining Fish, the defending champ and top seed, are second-seeded Kevin Anderson, third-seeded and former Georgia great John Isner and fourth-seed Xavier Malisse.
Qualifying continues Sunday at the Racquet Club of the South in Norcross. First-round play begins no earlier than 4 p.m. Monday. The winner of the ATC will receive $96,800. The Norcross event also is the start of the Olympus U.S. Open Series, the 10-tournament series leading into the U.S. Open.
Fish will begin play as early as Tuesday against the winner of the match between Richard Berankis and Nicolas Mahut. Isner, a finalist last year, could face fellow American James Blake in the second round. Blake, the 21st seed, will open against Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis. Isner comes in on a roll having won in Newport earlier this year.
Robby Ginepri of Marietta will resume his career against fellow wild-card entrant Tommy Haas. Ginepri injured his elbow in September in a mountain-biking accident. He hasn’t played in this level of an event since his injury.
“I’m excited to be back playing,” he said.
Former Wimbledon champ Lleyton Hewitt will open with a qualifier.
Americans in the field include Ryan Sweeting, who will open against India’s Somdev Devvarman, and Ryan Harrison, who will open against a qualifier. Also, Alex Bogomolov Jr. will open against Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller, and Donald Young of Atlanta and Michael Russell will square off.
In doubles, Georgia Tech’s Kevin King and Georgia’s Drake Bernstein will open against the top-seeded duo of Scott Lipsky and Rajeev Ram. Blake and Isner will team up and open against Marcelo Melo and Jamie Murray. The doubles champs will receive $29,400 as a team.
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Atlanta Tennis Championships
Where: Racquet Club of the South, Norcross
When: Qualifying continues Sunday. Championships are July 24.
Tickets: Call 866-840-8822. Children over the age of 12 months require a ticket.
Miscellaneous: No food or beverages are allowed except for 20-ounce (or smaller) water bottles (one per person), provided they are clear and made of plastic. Glass bottles, cans, coolers, ice chests, thermos bottles and picnic baskets are not permitted.
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