The first round of the BB&T Atlanta Open continued Tuesday as No. 5-seeded American star Frances Tiafoe lost in a surprising tiebreaking third set to Bernard Tomic at Atlantic Station. Earlier in the day, American Reilly Opelka bested Alexander Bublik, and Matthew Ebden routed Kamil Majchrzak to advance to the second round.
After losing the first set 4-6 against Tiafoe, Tomic, the unlikely victor, secured a 6-3 second-set win, earning a third set. Tomic trailed Tiafoe much of the third set, managing to tie the World No. 41 three times for an eventual 7-5 tiebreaking game to advance behind a 7-6 third set.
Earlier in the day, Opelka, 21, outplayed his opponent in straight sets. Bublik fought for a third set, earning a tiebreaking game in the second, but was knocked out 6-3 and 7-6.
In 2016, Opelka advanced to the semifinals at the Atlanta Open. This year he advances to the second round Wednesday to face University of Georgia alumnus John Isner, the Atlanta Open defending singles champion. In a semifinal match of the New York Open in February, Isner and Opelka earned the most aces in a best-of-3 match since 1991 with a combined 81. There Opelka defeated Isner in three tiebreakers.
Later in the day Tuesday, Ebden, 31, handed Majchrzak his Atlanta debut loss in straight sets. Behind a tiebreaking 7-6 set for Ebden, the No. 100-ranked player in the world, advanced to the second round with a 6-3 second set. Last year, Ebden advanced to the semifinals, where he lost to the eventual champion, Isner.
In the second round, Ebden will play Tomic for the rights to play either Opelka or Isner in the quarterfinals.
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