Johns Creek – Professional tennis has returned to Atlanta for the first time in nine years, and if the local fans are hungry for American success, they have not been disappointed.
Americans booked three of the four semifinal spots at the Atlanta Tennis Championships on Friday, as John Isner, Andy Roddick, and Mardy Fish joined 6’8” South African Kevin Anderson in the last four.
Atlanta residents Robby Ginepri and Donald Young each won a single match before bowing out of the tournament, but Isner and Roddick are still alive and thus providing the event with a marquee weekend billing. In his first match since Wimbledon, where he won the longest match in pro tennis history (11 hours and five minutes), Isner treated the fans to another thrilling win on Wednesday. The former UGA Bulldog saved two match points to defeat Gilles Muller 4-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(7), hammering down an amazing 33 aces in the process. Isner had a much easier time of it in Friday’s quarterfinals, as he trounced Michael Russell 6-1, 6-2.
“The crowd was great,” the No. 2 seed noted after beating Muller. “The whole crowd was in my favor. It helps, but it’s a different kind of pressure.”
Said Isner after cruising past Russell: “Being a Georgia Bulldog is the greatest thing in the world.”
That statement may not have sat well with some of the spectators, but they have been united in their support of both Isner and Roddick this week. Roddick has certainly made things interesting for the tournament faithful, needing three sets in each of his matches to reach the semifinals. The No. 1 seed and America’s No. 1 player took out Rajeev Ram 6-1, 6-7(1), 6-3 in his opener before staging a comeback to defeat No. 7 seed Xavier Malisse 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Friday night.
“Tonight was exceptional,” Roddick said of the sellout crowd. “They were getting behind me even when I was giving them no reason to get behind me.”
Malisse admitted that the entire stadium, as he expected, was for his opponent, but he still enjoyed the atmosphere. “It’s nice to have a huge crowd,” said the Belgian. “They were respectful.”
Despite the early exits by Ginepri, Young, and No. 3 seed Lleyton Hewitt, similarly boisterous atmospheres should be on the menu this weekend. Saturday’s semifinals will pit Roddick against Fish and Isner against Anderson. Fish has dismissed fellow Americans Ginepri and Taylor Dent, while Anderson has not dropped a set on his run through the draw.
Interesting storylines surround both semifinal showdowns. Roddick and Fish are best friends on tour and they played doubles together this week before Fish pulled out as a precautionary measure for a minor ankle problem after their first-round win. Isner and Anderson are two of the few pro tennis players who make it big on the circuit following a college career. In the 2007 NCAA Championship between Georgia and Illinois, Isner beat Anderson at the No. 1 singles spot to help give the ‘Dawgs a national title.
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