By Lauren D'Ambra & Justen Ransom/Special to BB&T Atlanta Open
ATLANTA, August 3, 2016 – These days it's an advantage to stand tall on the tennis court. American wildcard Reilly Opelka is on a roll in Atlanta, as he upset No. 3 seed and ATP World No. 28, Kevin Anderson of South Africa 7-6(5), 6-3, 7-5. It was his second ATP World Tour win, and the 6’11”, 18-year-old demonstrated why some are calling him the “next big thing." He totaled 20 aces and won 80% of first serve points over Anderson.
In the third set, Anderson pulled ahead with a break in the fourth game, but Opelka equaled the score with a critical break at 3-5 followed by a hold and a break at 5-5. as the heat started to impact Anderson.
“With this heat, it just came down to who was tougher (player), said Opelka.
Donald Young was next on Stadium Court and he had to work to force a decisive set again another tough American in Tim Smyczek. The 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-3 victory comes on the heels of a three- set match win against Austin Krajicek on Monday.
Three-time defending champion John Isner returned to the BB&T Atlanta Open stage and dished out sixteen aces in his two set victory over Adrian Mannarino of France. The No. 1 ranked American player took a decisive 6-4, 6-0 win to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
Mannarino scored an early break at 1-1. However, Isner came back strong with a barrage of aces and Mannarino mistakes to pull ahead with a break at 4-4.
Similar to the first set, Isner opened the second with multiple aces and improved returns. Mannarino quickly lost hope as Isner found his consistency and started moving inside the baseline to angle winners.
With Isner’s win, this will be the seventh year in a row an American is guaranteed to appear in the BB&T Atlanta Open final heading into the quarters.
Before Isner's match, good news was delivered to Atlanta tennis fans as Eddie Gonzalez, BB&T Atlanta Open Tournament Director, announced to the Stadium Court crowd that the BB&T Atlanta Open will return to Midtown Atlanta and Atlantic Station in 2017.
“I get asked a lot if the tournament was going to return to Atlantic Station, and I wanted you in the Stadium to be the first to know,” stated Gonzalez.
Second seed, Nick Kyrgios is in action on Thursday night, playing his opener against American Jared Donaldson.
RESULTS - AUGUST 03, 2016
Men's
Singles - Second Round
[1] J. Isner (USA) d A. Mannarino (FRA) 64 60
[WC] R. Opelka (USA) d [3] K. Anderson (RSA) 67(5) 63 75
[7] D. Young (USA) d T. Smyczek (USA) 46 76(1) 63
[8] T. Fritz (USA) d B. Fratangelo (USA) 46 63 62
Men's
Doubles - First Round
J. Marray (GBR) / A. Shamasdin (CAN) d [1] I. Dodig (CRO) / A. Qureshi (PAK) 63 61
A. Molteni (ARG) / H. Zeballos (ARG) d [2] R. Lindstedt (SWE) / M. Pavic (CRO) 63 64
P. Raja (IND) / D. Sharan (IND) d [4] J. Erlich (ISR) / M. Fyrstenberg (POL) 63 76(5)
J. Brunstrom (SWE) / A. Siljestrom (SWE) d [Alt] D. O'Brien (RSA) / R. Roelofse (RSA) 46 63 10-4
N. Monroe (USA) / A. Sitak (NZL) d D. Evans (GBR) / K. Skupski (GBR) 63 67(7) 10-6
ORDER OF PLAY - THURSDAY, AUGUST 04, 2016
STADIUM COURT start 2:00 pm
Y. Nishioka (JPN) vs [4] A. Dolgopolov (UKR)
Not Before 3:30 pm
[5] F. Verdasco (ESP) vs [PR] J. Benneteau (FRA)
Not Before 6:00 pm
[WC] J. Donaldson (USA) vs [2] N. Kyrgios (AUS)
J. Marray (GBR) / A. Shamasdin (CAN) vs M. Demoliner (BRA) / G. Garcia-Lopez (ESP)
AJC GRANDSTAND COURT start 2:00 pm
H. Zeballos (ARG) vs [LL] T. Kamke (GER)
After Suitable Rest - A. Dolgopolov (UKR) / S. Stakhovsky (UKR) vs P. Raja (IND) / D. Sharan (IND)