Southern players and organizations are constantly making their mark in the world of tennis. Here's a list of recent awards, achievements and news in July 2017.
Isner doubles up, winning Atlanta & Newport
July was a spectacular month for Greensboro, NC, native John Isner.
First, he defeated Matthew Ebden 6-3, 7-6(4), winning the Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Championships final in Newport, RI. It was his third title at Newport and on grass.
Then, Isner's downed Shreveport, LA native Ryan Harrison 7-6 (6), 7-6 (7) to take his fourth BB&T Atlanta Open title. His previous wins in Georgia, home of his beloved alma mater, the University of Georgia, were in 2013-15. He is 27-4 in Atlanta.
June wasn't too bad of a month for him; Isner became engaged to longtime girlfriend Madison McKinley.
Another Southerner -- Christian Harrison -- takes two in July
Christian Harrison might be best known as the brother of Ryan but two promising Americans will disagree.
Harrison won two USTA Pro Circuit tournaments this month. In Tulsa's $25,000 tournament, Harrison defeated Tommy Paul 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 on July 2. The next week, he took out Michael Mmoh 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the Wichita (KS) Tennis Open final.
He reached a career high of No. 240 at the end of the month.
Patrick Kypson reaches Wimbledon semis
Patrick Kypson defeated the fifth seed at Wimbledon. Photo: Bill Kallenberg |
One of three Southern boys playing in Wimbldeon, Patrick Kypson reached the boys' semifinals.
The resident of Geenville, NC fell to the eighth-seed, Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 6-4, 6-4 in the semis. He defeated the fifth-seeded Yuta Shimizu of Japan 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 in the second round.
Also playing were Trent Bryde, of Suwanee, GA, and Oliver Crawford, of Spartanburg, SC.