Photos from Atlanta Tennis Championships Day 6

Our finals are set for Sunday in both singles and doubles.  Mardy Fish and John Isner renew their rivalry in Atlanta.  In doubles, the German team of Bachinger and Moser take on Bogomolov Jr. and Matthew Ebden.  Ebden is on quite a roll as he won in Newport as well.

The doubles team of Berankis and MalisseBerankis jumps into a forehandAlex Bogomolov Jr. set to serveMardy Fish back in the finalsRyan Harrison was looking for answers against Mardy FishMardy Fish lines up a forehad

Pictures from Atlanta Tennis Championships Day 1

The last 4 qualifying matches were decided early in the afternoon making way for main draw play to start in earnest at 4pm.

The practice courts were packed all day with the likes of Mardy Fish, Lleyton Hewitt and a lot of doubles play.

Mardy Fish sweating it out during a practice session.

Fish spent time practicing with Lleyton Hewitt

Impressive today....

Michael Russell

and Somdev Devvarman

Not impressive today... Donald Young

Mardy Fish talked about being the #1 American player

Atlanta Tennis Championships Entry List Released

A solid, but not spectacular entry list was just released for the 2011 Atlanta Tennis Championships to be held this July.

1 Fish, Mardy USA 9
2 Querrey, Sam USA 26
3 Raonic, Milos CAN 28
4 Anderson, Kevin RSA 39
5 Malisse, Xavier BEL 40
6 Isner, John USA 45
7 Lu, Yen-Hsun TPE 53
8 Nishikori, Kei JPN 60
9 Dimitrov, Grigor BUL 64
10 Sweeting, Ryan USA 66
11 Devvarman, Somdev IND 67
12 Tursunov, Dmitry RUS 70
13 Kunitsyn, Igor RUS 72
14 Hewitt, Lleyton AUS 73
15 Gulbis, Ernests LAT 78
16 Berrer, Michael GER 79
17 Bogomolov Jr., Alex USA 81
18 Russell, Michael USA 91
19 Bachinger, Matthias GER 92

A good crop of Americans, no Roddick.  Atlanta tennis fans will want to see Canadian newcomer Milos Raonic.  No Donald Young getting direct entry.  With challenger points coming off his ranking, he is now #124 on the computer.  Ryan Harrison is now ahead of Young at #122.

Qualifying spots and wildcards to be determined.

Day 1: Australian Open Match of the Day - Wickmayer and Groth

Women's Singles - 1st Round
Yanina Wickmayer(BEL)[21]	vs.	Jarmila Groth(AUS)



A good match to open the first night session of the tournament.

These two are two of the most athletic players on the circuit.  They have only met once before with Wickmayer winning in three tough sets back in 2009.

They both have improved since then, and this should be another close three-setter.  Groth will be a bit of an underdog, but she will have the support of the crowd.  Wickmayer likes playing in Australia.

Prediction:  Wickmayer in 3 sets.

*Upset alert or Monday's play:  I don't like the matchup for Mardy Fish playing Victor Hanescu of Romania  out on Court 3.  Not sure what the state of Fish's game is right now, but he will have his hands full in this one.  I say Hanescu pulls off the upset in 4 sets.

Day 8: U.S. Open Match to Watch

How about these two matches on Ashe.

Men's Singles - 4th Round   Mardy Fish(USA)[19] vs.   Novak Djokovic(SRB)[3]

Women's Singles - 4th Round   Caroline Wozniacki(DEN)[1] vs.   Maria Sharapova(RUS)[14]

A great afternoon of tennis is shaping up for Labor Day afternoon.

Predictions:  Djokovic will edge Fish in 4 sets and Wozniacki is a little to consistent for Sharapova.

Mardy Fish will be in action on Labor Day