” This is MY HOUSE !!” What Atlanta sports fan isn’t familiar with the quote from Hall Of Famer Deion Sanders upon his return to Atlanta to play in the Georgia Dome as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. Primetime knew that Atlanta was where his NFL career took flight and that he would always get mad love in the A-Town.
Well, much the same could be said for John Isner when it comes to the BB&T Atlanta Open. The 6-10 Isner has made Atlantic Station his house as he has claimed the BB&T title the last 3 years in a row. One of the keys to his success is all the support that Isner enjoys playing in Atlanta is that he is close to the University of Georgia, where he was a member of the Bulldogs National Championship team in 2005. ” Being close to Athens, there are so many Georgia people in the Atlanta area, and I can always feel it when I play here.”, Says Isner. “I can be in Asia playing a tournament and look up and see some Georgia flags, so Georgia fans are everywhere especially when I come back to play here.”
This year John Isner comes to Atlanta seeking his first tournament title of 2016 and going for a 4-Peat at the BB&T. He will open his title defense this evening against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in a match that is slated to start after 6pm.
Also playing under the light tonight will be American rising star Taylor Fritz, who dashed the ATP debut of Georgia All-American Austin Smith , beating Smith is straight sets 6-2, 6-2 on College Night. Fritz, who is 18, will face fellow American Bjorn Fratangelo on Stadium court.
Thursday night, Australian sensation Nick Kyrgios will make his Atlanta debut.
Hope to see you at Atlantic Station this week.