Americans Advance at BB&T Atlanta Open

Finally, after three days of suspended play due to bouts of rain, the Thursday matches went uninterrupted by the weather at the BB&T Atlanta Open at Atlantic Station.

Ten matches were played, eleven Americans took the courts, and five advanced to the next round.

Singles results were:

Matthew Ebden, Australia, def. James Blake, United States, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-4.

Gilles Muller, Luxembourg, def. Mardy Fish (2), United States, 4-6, 2-3, retired.

Jack Sock, United States, def. Steve Johnson, United States, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5).

John Isner (1), United States, def. Ruden Bemelmans, Belgium, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

For all the results including doubles, see here.

Players have been very complimentary of the Atlantic Station venue and on Thursday it was obvious by the crowd attendance and cheering that the match of the day was John Isner versus Ruben Bemelmans. It definitely was for me. 

Attending a live professional tennis event has been on my list of “to dos” since I started playing tennis almost 20 years ago. It is pretty great that my first match ever I was able to see one of my favorite players who I watched dominate on the UGA’s men’s tennis team (Go Dawgs!) and have closely followed as he thrives on the ATP tour.

Isner’s opponent was Belgium’s Bemelmans, a left-hander who made it into the main draw as a qualifier. Many expected this to be an easy win for Isner, but Bemelmans put up a fight, and eventually took the first set 6-4. Isner bounced back quickly in the second. It seemed like only minutes before he finished the 6-3 second set. He really had control the entire set. Prior to the third set, play was suspended momentarily due to one of the lights going out. 

The crowd was entertained by the music and the patrons did a few rounds of the wave. Bemelmans even participated in it! It took about 25 minutes for the light to come back on – it wasn’t a long enough delay to really cause any unrest, and the players were given time to warm-up. 

To my surprise, the points were relatively short, which can be attributed in part to Isner’s unbelievable serve. He blasted 16 aces overall and took the third set, 6-4. After his win, he spoke to the crowd regarding his performance and his feelings on representing the USA in the 2012 Olympics, before taking time to sign plenty of autographs for fans.

Mardy Fish, last year’s champion, was leading Gilles Muller 6-4, 3-2, when he was forced to pull out from the tournament after suffering an ankle injury. It is an unfortunate incident, as Fish injured himself after nearly stumbling head-first into the net post.

Friday has six matches scheduled beginning at 1 p.m. and the schedule is attached.

Andy Roddick will play fellow American Michael Russell not before 7 p.m., followed by another American matchup of Isner versus Jack Sock, who has made his first ATP World Tour quarterfinal. Regardless of who wins, two Americans will advance to Saturday’s semifinals. 

A Japanese player will also advance to the semis as Friday afternoon’s match (no earlier than 4 p.m.) between Kei Nishikori and Go Soeda is the first ATP World Tour tournament quarterfinal matchup between Japanese players since the beginning of the Open era in 1968.

Tickets are still available. For the draws and daily schedule, click here. 

If you can’t make the tournament, ESPN2 will be telecasting the action the next three days. BB&T Atlanta Open programming is scheduled for 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday; 7 p.m. Saturday; and 3 p.m. Sunday.