Additions to the Atlanta Tennis Championships Main Draw

Written by: Staff on 14th July 2011

Additions to the Atlanta Tennis Championships Main Draw

Mardy Fish from United States returns the ball against David Ferrer from Spain during the 2011 Davis Cup World Group Quarterfinal between the United States and Spain at the Frank Erwin Center at the University of Texas at Austin, in Austin, Texas, 10 July 2011. EPA/LARRY W. SMITH |

Atlanta native and former top 15 player Robby Ginepri has been given a wild card into the Atlanta Tennis Championships (ATC), an ATP World Tour event that will open the Olympus US Open Series at the Racquet Club of the South, July 18-24, Tournament Director Bob Bryant announced today.

The American has won three ATP World Tour titles dating back to 2003, where he captured his first in Newport. His other two came in Indianapolisin 2005 and 2009. He is back on tour after rehabilitation sidelined the hometown hero from Kennesaw for the first half of 2011. Last September he fell off of his bicycle when trying to avoid hitting a squirrel, breaking his left elbow.

His last tour-level tournament was in 2010 at the US Open, an event he reached the semifinals of in 2005. Last year at the Atlanta Tennis Championships, Ginepri reached the second round before losing to eventual champion Mardy Fish.

“I’m so thankful to be back playing tennis, and for the opportunity to play in front of my hometown fans in Atlanta,” said Ginepri. “It’s a great tournament, and I hope that people from all over the area can come out and support me and the other amazing professionals.”

Ginepri joins six other American stars in the singles main draw event, including Fish; John Isner, who won the title in Newport this past weekend; Ryan Sweeting, who captured his first ATP World Tour title in Houston earlier this year; Alexander Bogomolov, Jr., who has one win this year on the Challenger circuit; 10-year tour veteran Michael Russell, who will be looking to back-up his quarterfinals appearance last year in Atlanta and former top ten American James Blake.

“Robby is a great addition to our strong player field,” said Tournament Director Bob Bryant. “He has a lot of talent and I think his Atlanta roots will gain him quite a bit of fan support at this year’s Championships.”

In addition, qualifying draw wild cards were giving to 18-year-old American Denis Kudla and 14-year ATP World Tour Veteran Nicolas Massu. Just last week, Kudla rose 57 spots to a career-high ranking after defeating Ivo Karlovic and Grigor Dimitrov en route to the quarterfinals inNewport. Massu reached a career-high ranking of No. 9 in the world in 2004 after winning two gold medals for his country in singles and doubles (with Fernando Gonzalez). He has five other ATP World Tour singles titles in his career.

Daily tickets and weeklong ticket packages, which include tickets to all 11 sessions of the Atlanta Tennis Championships, are now on sale. For ATC ticket information, call 678-495-3279, e-mail tickets@atlantatennischampionships.com or visit www.atlantatennischampionships.com.