Rajeev Ram Beats Wayne Odesnik Today and gets "Dead Fish" Handshake

If you can call it that.

Also appears to be fans mocking Odesnik in defeat.  Odesnik is working his way back from a drug suspension and is not a favorite of players or fans.  Ram has been outspoken about the rule breaker, Odesnik, so I'm sure this victory in qualifying at Washington was twice as sweet.

A good win for one of the good guys, Rajeev Ram.

Photos From Thursday's Action at the USTA Atlanta Pro Circuit Event

Play began promptly at 9am with four round of 16 matches on the tennis courts of The Falls at Autrey Mill.

The Norman Wilkerson Memorial Tournament is a 10K USTA Women's Pro Circuit Event held each year in the Atlanta area.  It features women's players ranked #400-1000 in the world, top college players and juniors that are testing the professional waters.

Results to come, here are images from today.

Top junior Hannah King who is from the Atlanta area

Hannah KingHannah KingAngelina GabuevaFederica GraziosoFormer NCAA champ from Georgia Tech, Amanda McDowell

Top junior Taylor Townsend of Georgia

Taylor TownsendUniversity of Florida player Lauren Embree

Lauren EmbreeMai Minokoshi of Japan

Mai MinokoshiPlay continues through Sunday.

Opening Round Images from USTA Atlanta Women's Pro Circuit

Tuesday saw the opening round start at the Norman Wilkerson Memorial USTA Pro Circuit Event outside of Atlanta.  The temps started out hot early in the day and then cloud cover took hold, but humidity was still around 100%.

Players were commenting that this is most brutal weather they had ever played in.

Lauen Embree in actionNew Zealand's Diane HollandsBrook Bolender and Denise Muresan as a doubles teamUniversity of Florida player Alexandra CerconeAnnie MulhollandTop seed, Lauren DavisLauren Davis working on her serveThe tennis playing Ellison Sisters

For my interview with the Ellison Sisters check out The Daily Forehand 

http://www.thedailyforehand.com/2011/7/12/2272801/the-ellison-sisters-are-the-real-tennis-players-of-orange-county

The hot and humid temperatures are supposed to stick around all week.

ATP Tour Match of the Week: Djokovic vs. Bellucci

Did I surprise you this week by picking this match and not the obvious Nadal/Federer showdown?

This is an inriguing match and surprisingly these two have only met once.  Djokovic won last year in Rome 6-4, 6-4.  Look at the tale of the tape and how even it is until you hit the last three lines and then it gets ugly.

Djokovic has quite a winning streak going and for that reason alone, this is a must see match.

I like Djokovic to keep the winning ways going as he will probably win in 3-sets.  6-4 in the third.

Here's hoping for a Nadal vs. Djokovic final on clay, in Spain.