HEWITT, ANDERSON, STEPANEK, DODIG, KARLOVIC ADDED TO FIELD
BB&T Atlanta Open individual session tickets for all sessions are now on sale. Prices for tickets to the ATP World Tour 250 event range from $39 to $172 for a Lexus Inner Circle seat on Sunday, July 27, the day the finals are scheduled.
Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic becomes the third European who is former top 10 player to head to Atlanta. Also signing up to play is former No. 1 and US Open and Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt. Other players who have reached the top 10 include defending champion John Isner (No. 9), Gael Monfils (No. 7) and Richard Gasquet (No. 7). Former No. 8 and 2006 Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis is scheduled to play qualifying.
2013 finalist Kevin Anderson will also return to the tournament, which is the first men’s event in the Emirates Airline US Open Series. With the addition of Anderson, along with Isner, Gasquet and Monfils, four currently-ranked Top 20 players will be in the field.
The world-class field expands with two players with top 40 career credentials: Russia’s top player Dmitry Tursunov and Canada’s Vasek Pospisil. The tournament will feature the top players from eight countries: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, South Africa, United States and Uzbekistan. Croatian standouts Ivo Karlovic (career high of No. 14) and Ivan Dodig (career high of No. 29) are back again.
BB&T Atlanta Open regulars Atlanta’s Donald Young and American Jack Sock will be playing again this year. They are joined by fellow Americans Bradley Klahn, who is making his first appearance in Atlanta. Sam Querrey is playing Atlanta for the first time this year. Ryan Harrison has signed up to play and is projected to be in qualifying. Marietta, Ga.’s Robby Ginepri has registered for qualifying but is not a direct entry.
Promising American junior Francis Tiafoe has accepted his first tournament qualifying wild card. Tiafoe, 16, is a talented young prodigy who rose to No. 2 in the world junior rankings this spring. Georgia Tech’s Nathan Rakitt and Alabama’s Becker O’Shaunessgy have accepted qualifying wild cards. Rakitt, a Marietta native and All-ACC selectee, is competing again for the second year. O’Shaunessgy of Macon, Ga., led the Crimson Tide in singles wins (22) this season.
“This is the strongest field in tournament history, especially considering the influx of outstanding European players.” Eddie Gonzalez, Tournament Director and Chief Development Officer said. “We have notably expanded our presence to have a diverse mix of players from up and comers to proven pros competing in our tournament.”
Weekend Ticket Packages for the BB&T Atlanta Open are also on sale, with packages starting at $228. The packages cover Friday, July 25, through Sunday, July 27, and provide fans with tickets to the singles and doubles quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.