Second Atlanta Tennis Championships Wildcard May Go to Brit

James WardIt looks like the second wildcard for the 2010 Atlanta Tennis Championships may go to a Brit.  It did seem a little strange to me when young American player Ryan Harrison mysteriously received a wildcard into the Queen's Club event in London prior to Wimbledon.  Now I possibly see why.  The USTA Southern Section may have had to relinquish this wildcard to the USTA to get the USTA to sign off on moving this event to Atlanta and not canceling it altogether.

There may be a wildcard swap taking place, and if that is the case, British player James Ward would in return get a wildcard into the Atlanta event in 10 days.  It actually makes sense to me to see this swap between the LTA and the USTA.  Harrison is potentially the next great American player and getting him that grass court experience was invaluable.  The LTA on the other hand is willing to go to great lengths now to help British players who are on the rise and aren't afraid now to turn their backs on players that just haven't produced any results in recent years.  James Ward is one bright spot the LTA has.

Both Queens and Atlanta are ATP 250 events, so they are similar in that respect.  Ward is currently ranked #301 and I'm sure getting him into main draw hardcourt events before the U.S. Open is of vital importance to him, the LTA, and British tennis fans.  This is a message to other British players to get off their butts.  Ward has a career high ranking in the 180's, he's 6'3" and weighs about 175lbs.

That will leave one wildcard for the event to use, and it will be interesting to see in what direction they will go.  Donald Young already received the first wildcard, and he is a local name to the Atlanta area, so that means something.  He has been an unmitigated disappointment so far in his career and has been at odds with the USTA for years.  Hopefully he makes a decent showing for the event, if he lays an egg it may be the last wildcard he gets for while.