TENNIS • ATP • DONALD YOUNG JR. BEATS IVO KARLOVIC @ ATLANTA BB&T • FRITZ, NOAH, TIAFOE ALSO ADVANCE

Written by: Staff on 25th July 2018

TENNIS • ATP • DONALD YOUNG JR. BEATS IVO KARLOVIC @ ATLANTA BB&T • FRITZ, NOAH, TIAFOE ALSO ADVANCE

epa06442200 Donald Young of the United States in action against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during round one of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 January 2018. EPA-EFE/DEAN LEWINS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Donald Young of the United States in action against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during round one of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 January 2018. EPA-EFE/DEAN LEWINS

By Ricky Dimon

Five Americans charged into the BB&T Atlanta Open second round on Tuesday, as Donald Young, Ryan Harrison, Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, and Noah Rubin picked up wins.

Young prevailed in his rain-delayed match with Ivo Karlovic 2-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(6). The Atlanta native and Atlantic Station resident struggled on Monday evening when he lost the first set and was on serve at 5-5 in the second. A postponement proved to be just what the doctor ordered for Young–and exactly what Karlovic did not want. The 39-year-old Croat delivered costly double-faults at 5-5 in the second-set tiebreaker and 6-6 in the third-set ‘breaker. Young also saved a match point while serving at 5-6, 30-40 in the third.

“I came out (on Tuesday) pretty motivated and with a lot of energy,” Young reflected. “I was kind of dejected after I got broken (in third set). I tried to stay focused. Once we got to the ‘breaker, I think I’ve won the last three ‘breakers we played, so I was feeling pretty confident.”

Harrison also battled back from a set deficit, as he defeated James Duckworth 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-1. The 2017 Atlanta runner-up and No. 8 seed this year also trailed 2-0 in the second-set ‘breaker, but he reeled off seven straight points and never looked back throughout the third.

Tiafoe joined Young and Harrison in the last 16 when he ousted Marius Copil 6-4, 6-4 later in the day. The Delray Beach champion cracked nine aces, did not face a single break point, and won 31 of 35 first-serve points while getting the job done in one hour and one minute.

“Wow, only four? That’s crazy,” Tiafoe answered when told he surrendered only four points on his first serve throughout the entire match. “I’m not gonna sit here and say I had any flaws today. I played well; hit forehand great, backhand solid. I played well from the back.

“I’m just trying to play like Nick Kyrgios every day,” he joked when Kyrgios walked by during his post-match interview.

Awaiting Tiafoe on Thursday is Marcos Baghdatis, who defeated Alex Bolt 6-4, 6-1.

“It’s going to be a good one,” Tiafoe said of the veteran Cypriot. “I’ve never played him before. We’re great friends. He’s always been nice to me; always embraced me as young guy coming up. I got a ton of respect for him, and likewise [him for me].”

Meanwhile, Fritz took care of Newport runner-up Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-4, 6-4 and Rubin defeated fellow qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3, 6-4. Americans went 5-2 overall on Tuesday, with only Tim Smyczek and Emil Reinberg losing to heavily-favored opponents (Mischa Zverev and Mikhail Youzhny, respectively).