USTA Australian Open Wildcard Playoffs Kick Off With Media Day

The USTA will be hosting their annual Australian Open Tennis Wildcard Playoffs this weekend outside of Atlanta. 

The event kicked off today with media festivities which I was fortunate enough to participate in.

It included a doubles match with world #84 Irina Falconi as my partner against local sports anchor Sam Crenshaw and his partner in ATP #127 Bobby Reynolds.  Additional press and tennis fans were watching the action and a couple Atlanta news channels were rolling tape.

My serve was rusty, but I hit a nice angle drop volley that Bobby made a great play on, a nice backhand topspin lop for a winner and a forehand down the line winner past Bobby.  Irina was a great partner.

Following the set a half of doubles, the players answered questions at a press conference and ate lunch and talked further with the media.

 

Metro Atlanta Tennis Pros Having Success this Week in Canada and D.C.

The Atlanta Tennis Tennis Championships may have ended two weeks ago, but that doesn't mean professional tennis players from the Atlanta area are taking any time off.

Out of the six matches to be played Saturday at the Odlum Brown Vancouver Open, five will have strong connections to the State of Georgia an four of them involve Cobb County residents. This may be a Challenger event held north of the U.S. border, but it's draw would remind many of WTA or ATP Tour events.

With Jamie Hampton, originally from Auburn, AL and now living in Marietta, GA involved in one women's semi-final match as well as the women's doubles finals she is going to have a busy day in the beautiful Canadian city of Vancouver. Alpharetta, GA resident Irina Falconi is having a breakthrough year on the WTA Tour and she will face Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada in the other women's semi's.

The men's semi's are just as loaded with Peach State players. Kennesaw, GA resident Robby Ginepri is on the comeback trail and he's moved through the Vancouver draw to a Saturday matchup with another Georgia player, Bobby Reynolds of Acworth.

As a bonus for Reynolds' fans he's also going to play the doubles semi later this evening with his partner, Vasek Pospisil of Canada.

All this without even mentioning Atlanta resident Donald Young. Young is having his best result as a pro and a tournament that many have been waiting for by reaching the semi's of the Legg Mason today in Washington D.C. In the other semi is John Isner, a player who is a former Georgia Bulldog and has tons of connections to the Atlanta and Athens, GA areas.

Good results for Metro Atlanta tennis players in Canada preparing for the 2011 U.S. Open.

Here's Irina Falconi unleashing a forehand.