ISNER, DONALD YOUNG JR. & OTHER AMERICANS HEAD TO WINSTON-SALEM FOR U.S. OPEN PREPARATION BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: on 17th August 2014
US National Indoor Tennis Championships
ISNER, DONALD YOUNG JR. & OTHER AMERICANS HEAD TO WINSTON-SALEM FOR U.S. OPEN PREPARATION BY RICKY DIMON

epa04072803 Donald Young of the US hits a return shot to Denis Kudla of the US in their second round match in the US National Indoor Tennis Championships at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 12 February 2014. EPA/TANNEN MAURY  |

The U.S. Open may be on the minds of players and fans like, but don’t forget about this week’s Winston-Salem Open. It gives the ATP World Tour stars a final opportunity for match practice heading into New York. Among those looking to take advantage are Americans John Isner, Steve Johnson, Donald Young, and Sam Querrey.

 

Isner, the No. 1 seed, is 10-1 lifetime at what is basically a hometown event for hm (he is from nearby Greensboro, N.C.). The world No. 14 bagged titles in 2011 and 2012 before withdrawing last year in the wake of a run to the Cincinnati title match.

 

Over the weekend, Isner paid a visit to Wake Forest University’s football practice. He threw passes to some of the Demon Deacons’ receivers, including Jared Crump.

“It’s such an honor [to play with Isner] just because he’s so well-known and such a big-time star,” Crum commented. “He represents USA very well on the tennis court. He is such a great person. I watch him on TV all the time, so it’s just great to meet him and catch passes from him and combine our sports together.”

 

Last Friday’s draw ceremony certainly did nothing to alter Isner’s status as title favorite. The next highest seed in the top half is Tommy Robredo, who could be somewhat fatigued and may not be craving many more matches after reaching the Cincinnati quarterfinals. Isner would be expected to handle everyone else in the top half—possibly even with ease.

The other side of the bracket is much deeper, featuring Johnson, Querrey, and Young. Johnson and Querrey, frequent doubles partners who just reached the Cincinnati semis together, could face each other in the second round. No. 2 seed Kevin Anderson, Atlanta semifinalist Benjamin Becker, Hamburg champion Leonardo Mayer, and Jerzy Janowicz—who upset Grigor Dimitrov in Cincinnati–are also in the bottom half.

With the U.S. Open beginning next Monday, Winston-Salem got off to a Sunday start and will conclude on Saturday. Ryan Harrison was among the first-day winners, as he took care of Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 6-2. Harrison will go up against Lukas Rosol in the last 32.

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: , , , , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.