ATP Tennis In Atlanta • John Isner Returns To His Stomping Grounds, Nick Kyrgios Also Playing–But Only Doubles

By Ricky Dimon

 

The two best tournaments of John Isner’s career are the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport and the BB&T Atlanta Open.

 

An incredible nine of his 14 ATP titles have come at those two events (four in Newport, five in Atlanta). Isner has completed the Newport-Atlanta duo in back-to-back weeks once (2017) and he will be looking to do it again after triumphing on the Newport grass on Sunday. The 15th-ranked American battled back from a break down in the first set to beat Alexander Bublik 7-6(2), 6-3.

 

“My very first ATP Tour event was here in 2007 and I didn’t enjoy the courts that much back then because I didn’t know how to play on them,” Isner reflected. “To say that I’ve won this event four times isn’t something I thought would be possible.”

 

Only in Atlanta is Isner better than he is at the site of the tennis Hall of Fame, owner of a ridiculous 31-4 record with titles in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018 to go along with three runner-up finishes and one semifinal showing.

 

Isner’s 2019 opener could come against none other than Bublik, although the eclectic Kazak would first half to get past Reilly Opelka. Also in the top quarter of the draw are Radu Albot, Tennys Sandgren, and Radu Albot. That half also features Alex de Minaur, Frances Tiafoe, and Bernard Tomic.

 

Jack Sock is making his comeback from injury a finds himself in a tough bottom quarter with Taylor Fritz, Ugo Humbert, and Grigor Dimitrov. The bottom half is also home to Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Jordan Thompson, and Alexei Popyrin.

 

Nick Kyrgios is one of the biggest names in Atlanta, but he is only playing doubles. A former singles champion of this tournament, Kyrgios is teaming up with American Tommy Paul.

 

It should be an interesting week of Kyrgios in a city with plenty of night life, no singles on his schedule, and guys like Tomic to hang out with. Stay tuned….

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.