Monday, July 26, 2010

Pro Tennis Here To Stay ???

What  a week at the Atlanta Athletic Club.. The pro tennis tour returned to our town on a week when the nickname " HOTlanta", was more than fitting.Spectators braved the conditions that were unbearable at times, with some needing medical assistance. The fans were not the only ones needing help, Tournament Champion Mardy Fish required an I-V after playing a grueling 3-setter with UGA's John Isner. It brought an end to an exciting week of competition with some of the top players in the world, and we even got to see Andy Roddick's wife and SI swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker. The couple was spotted eating at Waffle House and Mrs. Roddick was sporting a t-shirt that proclaimed Atlanta to be the "Best Tennis Town". That's it, HOT tennis, a HOT model, and  HOT weather that made us all feel scattered , covered and smothered. Andy Roddick did not make hotel reservations for next year, saying this year's tournament happened to fall just right for his schedule. He may be on to something. Just hours after celebrating the success of last week tournament officials said that next years date might be in doubt. The first week of the US Open series could be the same week as the PGA Championship, which is scheduled for the Atlanta Athletic Club . It could leave the Atlanta Tennis Championships searching for a home for next year, or worse, taking a year off. That is not the way an event wants to spend the year after a successful debut..Look for update on this blog site..

Thursday, July 22, 2010

ATC Day 4 .. Survival !!!

When I asked Andy Roddick about playing in the Georgia heat this week he basiscally brushed it off, saying that it's hot everywhere this time of year. He added that most cities on the US Open series were real proud of their heat, with a smile..Well, the top seed wasn't smiling when he called for the trainer to come and visit him during his three set battle with Rajeev Ram. When this tournament was anounced I was concerned with it's date. Late July in Georgia can be brutal and would truly test the fitness of the tours top players, who are just returning to the states from Wimbledon. The top three seeds were trying to shake of some rust and clearly labored in the sweltering conditions.. John Isner made it through, so did Roddick, but the outcome was not so good for Australian Lleyton Hewitt, who fell in straights to Lukas Lacko. The fans were having a time keeping cool, and yours truly was glad I brought a second polo along. The first shirt looked like I went swimming in it.. Roddick mentioned the heat in his post match interview and about a hour later, we learned that he and Mardy Fish had backed out of their doubles match.. Both are set to play singles matches in the evening seassion.. While John Isner will play the third stadium court match of an afternoon session that gets started at noon..Hydrate !!! See you at the Tournament..

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Day 3 at the Atlanta Tennis Championships

 It was another spectacular day at the Atlanta Tennis Championships, as the Americans continued to be a as hot as the weather..Speaking of weather, the tournament managed to dodge a certain thunderstorm during the late afternoon session.Dark clouds, and grumbles of thunder had spectators keeping an eye on he sky during Taylor Dent's match. The win picked up, blowing pine needles on to court two and forcing a delay for the court to be cleared by leaf blowers. Dent brought some thunder all his own, with serves that clocked 148 miles per hour. Dent led a parade of American winners that included Michael Russell, Mardy Fish, and John Isner, barely. Isner had no bounce on court, and admitted that he had not been on court much since the marathon win at Wimbledon. He escaped Gilles Muller's excellent play in a match that lasted over 2 and a half hours, with a third set tiebreak.. The final match of the day has Mardy Fish beating Robby Ginepri in straight sets. Fish is playing well after a recent win at Newport. Thursday will bring the first singles play for Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt. Both are former world number 1s and married to wifes who sing, act, and model. So let the stargazing begin, Carolina Panthers Pro-Bowler Steve Smith is here to watch Isner, look for Terrell Owens to show up to watch buddy, Roddick. We may have to wait a day for TO to show up. The live television broadcast won't start until Friday, and If we know anything about TO it's that he loves those network tv cameras.. See you at the Atlanta Athletic Club..

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Great Day for Home Town Players at ATC

Day two of the Atlanta Tennis Championships and it was time for area players to shine. Both Robby Ginepri and Donald Young got to see their dream come true. They played in an ATP even while while staying at home..For Ginepri , it has been a long wait for pro tennis to return to Atlanta. The Kennesaw resident and Wheeler High School alum was feeling some nerves playing in front of friends and family , but rallied to take charge of the first round match with Nick Lindahl.  I was sitting near Robby's Father , who is also his business partner with the Olde Town Club in Marietta. A proud father looked on as his son battled through 90 degree heat for a victory..He can playin the heat, said Rene Ginepri. He actually hoped that Robby's next match would be during the day, but the ATP decided otherwise, scheduling Ginepri's next match against fellow American Mardy Fish Wednesday night.  The other home town product , Donald Young, played on court 1, which only has bleaches on eastside of the court. That means those spectators were facing a boiling sun. Like Ginepri,Young got off to a shaky start, then regrouped to win th first set 7-5 over Dudi Sela. Young , is a junior tennis legend who has struggled to find the right formula for success in ATP tournaments..Earlier this year, Donald's parents surrendered their coaching duties to the USTA  and it seems to be working. Young now shows patience on court instead of rushing through his matches. That was the differnce today, and it frustrated Sela so bad he flung his towel over the fence after going own 4-0  in the second set. Young won the set 6-0 to complete an impressive opening round. Young will face Kevin Anderson Thursday. I spoke with Donald Young's Parents and they were all smiles, looking ahead to the next round..With his ranking now at 105, a second round win could send Young into the top 100 in the world.. Also seen at the Atlanta Athletic Club. James Blake falls to Taylor Dent in three sets and I got to perform my duties, interviewing the winners after each match on the court, like US Open.. This is a great week for Atlanta and today the homeboys made the spectators proud.. Let's hope we get to see more tomorrow..

Monday, July 19, 2010

Showtime for Pro Tennis in Atlanta

 This is it!!! Curtains up on the long awaited Atlanta Tennis Championships. The stars of the ATP tour are in Atlanta for first time in almost 10 years. Last week's adddition of Andy Roddick was just the right injection of star power , and area sports fans have responded by making a run on tickets. The blazing heat of Georgia in July didn't keep spectators away from the Atlanta Athletic Club on the first day of play in the main draw. We media folks were getting a chance to huddle with Lleyton Hewitt, and Roddick, who raised a few eyebrows when he practiced wih no shirt on. Meanwhile the guys were keeping their eyes peeled for Roddick's wife, Sports Illustrated Swinsuit Model Brooklyn Decker. Even I was keeeping and eye out for Mrs. Roddick. If she shows up this week, you will hear it here first..After the opening ceremonies American Mardy Fish made short work of James Ward 6-1, 6-2. Ward is a young British player who got a Wild Card into the Atlanta tournament, and it getting dashed by Fish wasn't bad enough, the public address announcer called him JOHN Ward..The young Brit smiled and waved the crowd as he walked toward the gate.. See you in L.A, James, er John.. The other two Wild Cards for this event went to Roddick and Atlanta resident Donald Young, who is coming home to play with some momentum. Last week he made the final of a USTA Pro Curcuit event in California..His ranking is now up to 105 in the world and he will play Tuesday evening against Dudi Sela . Also in action Tuesday will be Kennesaw resident Robby Ginepri, who faces Nick Lindahl in the first match of the day at 4pm. The first evening match on stadium court will feature James Blake and Taylor Dent in an All-American showdown. The late match of the evening will feature the doubles team of Mardy Fish and Andy Roddick..Roddick, who relaxed with a round of golf, will begin singles play Wednesday, as will John Isner.. We also Taped segments for this week's Matchpoint show.. Be sure to watch Thursday on Sportsouth, and Sunday Morning at 11:30 on 11Alive...