The semifinals of the 2011 Atlanta Tennis Championships are now set
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| Quarterfinal Recap
The semifinals of the 2011 Atlanta Tennis Championships are now set. The final match of the evening was an all-American battle between qualifier Rajeev Ram and rising American star Ryan Harrison. Only 19 years old, Harrison is playing in his first ever ATP World Tour event quarterfinal and was looking to break into the Top 100 for the first time in his career and become the first teenager to reach the semifinals of an ATP World Tour event since 2007 when Sam Querrey in Indianapolis. The two compatriots battled in one of the most exciting matches of the tournament so far. Rajeev, the qualifier from Indianapolis, continued his remarkable play, taking the first set 6-4. However, Harrison began to connect on his passing shots in the second set and took the set 6-1. All of the momentum seemed to be in Harrison’s favor as they entered the decisive set and he went up an early break. With experience on his side, Ram broke back and the two held serve to force a tiebreak. Harrison was able to hold off a match point while serving at 5-6. After holding to force a tiebreak, Harrison raced out to a 5-1 lead in the tiebreak. However, Ram responded winning the next for points to make it 5-5. The next two points were two of the best points the entire match with both players transitioning from defense to offense. The match ended with Harrison hitting a forehand passing shot the clipped the net cord for a winner. As the players hugged at the net, the crowd gave both players a standing ovation after the match in appreciation of the hard fought match between the two. Up next for Ryan Harrison is Mardy Fish who defeated Somdev Devvarman in the first featured night match in front of a packed crowd. Despite Fish’s numerous unforced errors in the first set, he managed to take it 6-4. He then cleaned up his game and raced off to a quick 5-0 lead in the second. Devvarman was able to rally back to 3-5, but the defending champion was able to hold and punch his ticket into the semifinals. The first to secure his spot in the semifinals was Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller who upset the second seeded Kevin Anderson. The South African won their one previous meeting in 2008, but today Muller was able to preserve. Muller credited the result with clutch serving, saying he was proud of the two solid tiebreaks he played to win the match 7-6(3), 7-6(3). Muller is looking to make is first ATP World Tour finals appearance since Los Angeles in 2005. The second singles match of the day session featured last year’s finalist and this year’s three seed, as John Isner facing off against Yen-Hsun Lu. Using is dominant serve and powerful ground game, Isner was able to overpower Lu 6-1, 6-2. In his post match interview, Isner discussed how this year’s results are eerily similar to last year. In his first 2010 match last year he defeated his semifinal opponent Gilles Muller 7-6 in the third set and followed that match with a 6-1, 6-2 second-round win. This paralleled his 7-5 third-set victory in his first match against James Blake and then he followed it with an identical score today. Last year’s Atlanta Tennis Championships match was the only time the two have played. The day’s doubles match featured the young Georgia/Georgia Tech double team facing off against two Germans Matthias Bachinger and Frank Moser. Despite losing today in their quarterfinal match, 7-6(8) 6-1 both players lingered on court to embrace their opportunity to play on Stadium Court in front of a vibrant Georgia/Georgia Tech crowd. Georgia’s Drake Bernstein and Georgia Tech’s Kevin King have made the most of their wild card entry into the main draw of doubles. After upsetting the top-seeded defending champions Ram/ Lipsky in the first round, the collegiate pair have become immensely popular around the grounds. Both players were thrilled to have the opportunity and neither have stopped smiling throughout the week. Despite losing today in their quarterfinal match, 7-6(8) 6-1 both players lingered on court to embrace their opportunity to play on Stadium Court in front of a vibrant Georgia/Georgia Tech crowd. Directory: ustaassets -> assets -> 669 669 -> Atlanta tennis championships selects atlantic station as site in multi-year deal 669 -> Baghdatis joins stellar field at atlanta tennis championships 669 -> Usta southern 669 -> Day 3 Recap: Isner Battles Past Doubles Partner and Friend 669 -> Bulldog Fans Pull Isner Through Another Dogged Effort By Ron Cioffi/BB&t atlanta Open assets -> Policy on Residency for Junior Division Closed Tournaments and State Ranking Purpose Download 7.22 Kb. Share with your friends:
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