ATLANTA, July 30, 2016 – Three-time defending champion, John Isner, is the top seed at the 2016 BB&T Atlanta Open, the annual ATP World Tour 250 event that runs all week at Atlantic Station. Main draw matches are set to begin on Monday with play on both the Stadium and Grandstand Courts. Americans currently fill nine of the 28 spots spots in the singles draw.
ATP World Tour No. 19, Nick Kyrgios of Australia is making his first appearance in Atlanta and sits in the No. 2 seed position. The top four seed have been granted byes and wait to play the winner of a first round match.
Former University of Georgia All-American, Austin Smith, a local product from the Metro Atlanta area will be in action on Tuesday evening, which is “College Night.” Smith takes on No. 8 seed, Taylor Fritz, an 18-year old that reached the finals of the Memphis Open back in February and is currently ranked No. 63 in the world. Isner plays the winner of Adrian Mannarino of France and a qualifier and Kyrgios takes on the winner of the Sam Groth/Jared Donaldson match.
18-year old Reilly Opelka, who stands 6' 11' received a wildcard into the main draw of singles. Opekla won the 2015 Wimbledon Junior Boy's Championship.
Atlanta's Donald Young plays American Rajeev Ram in the first round. These two Americans have never played as professionals, but they have joined forces for doubles this week.
The last main draw wildcard went to ATP World Tour ?#NextGen rising star, Donaldson, who comes to Atlanta fresh of a 3rd Round appearance at the Rogers Cup in Toronto with a Top 40 win over Fabio Fognini.
The doubles draw was also released on Saturday with Ivan Dodig/Asiam -Ui-Haq Qureshi earning the top seed and Robert Lindstedt/Mate Pavic seeded second. The local college wildcard team of Christopher Eubanks (GA Tech) and Zack Kennedy (GA State) have a first round encounter with Ram and Young.
Singles qualifying continues on Sunday as Eubanks tries to earn a sport in the singles main draw.
The John McEnroe vs. Sergi Bruguera exhibition match is slated for Sunday Night and a few tickets remain.
Fans and media are encouraged to see the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games 20th Anniversary Exhibit presented by Coca-Cola. The exhibit is free and open to the public and coincides with the BB&T Atlanta Open's celebration of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, which runs July 30 – August 7.
Tickets on sale now at www.bbtatlantaopen.com.