July 29, 2022 – The semifinals are set for Saturday in Atlanta at the 2022 Atlanta Open. This year's ATP 250 event runs from July 23-31, as the U.S. Open Series kicks off on the North American hardcourts at Atlantic Station.
Quarterfinals singles recap:
Ilya Ivashka moves on to the Atlanta Open Semifinal
Ilya Ivashka advanced to the semifinal Friday afternoon with a three-set win over Tommy Paul. In their first career meeting, Paul struggled to find service rhythm in the first set. He saved an immediate break point in his opening service game but was broken in his subsequent serve. Ivashka breezed through his service games and eventually captured a double break for a 5-2 score. He would then serve out the set.
The American changed tactics in his service strategy, going for high percentage slice serves. This was indeed effective as he was not broken throughout the second set. He finally had some low stress holds, and broke Ivanka’s serve at 3-2 for a 4-2 lead. Ivashka would attribute this to a slight lack of concentration, but also said that losing serve “…is a part of tennis. Even John Isner lost his serve last night.” Both would hold their remaining service games until the second set was eventually won 6-3 by Tommy Paul.
Ivashka raced out to a quick 3-0 lead in the deciding set after breaking the American again at 1-0. He dictated play throughout the third set, forcing Paul into timely unforced errors. Ivashka breezed through the set 6-1, earning the first spot in the 2022 semifinals.
2019 Atlanta open champion, Alex De Minaur, beats the Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. 6-4, 6-3, 6-0.
Both players came out strong and ready to play and set one started off with Mannarino breaking Minaur’s serve, and he was up 2-1. The Frenchman, famous for his low spin backhand earned an early break in the first set. Both players held serve until Mannarino prevailed for a 6-4 win.
Set two started out with Mannarino having two opportunities to break at 1-1, but two de Minaur forehand winners saved both. He would hold for a 2-1 lead in the second set. de Minaur finally broke the Mannarino serve at 4-3 in the second set. He then had the opportunity to serve for the set at 5-3, he held and forced a deciding third set.
The third set started off with energy! While serving the opening game of the third set, Mannarino dumped on an easy forehand volley into the net allowing the Australian to grasp an early break. A frustrated Mannarino subsequently received a code violation for racquet abuse. He was then broken again, giving the Australian a big 3-0 lead. The frustration for Mannarino continued as he was bageled to end the match.
Tiafoe cruises past Nakashima in singles quarterfinals.
Frances Tiafoe defeated Brandon Nakashima by a score of 6-4, 6-2 in an all-American showdown. This is the fourth time that the two have faced off with Tiafoe winning each time.
Tiafoe, age 24, is ranked No. 29 in singles and is chasing his second career title after winning Delray Beach in 2018.
Early in the first set, Tiafoe seemed to have some trouble, but quickly adjusted to break Nakashima. The 20-year-old from San Diego tried to fight back, but couldn’t overcome Tiafoe’s serve. The Maryland native claimed the first set 6-4.
Nakashima didn’t get off to the ideal start in the second set either, as his opponent broke him in the very first game and quickly grabbed a 2-0 advantage. The Californian seemed to be out of the game at this point and was never able to get back into it. Fourth-seeded Tiafoe went on to convincingly win the set 6-2 and punch his ticket to the semifinals.
Jenson Brooksby stuns six-time champion in an epic quarter final showdown!
Brooksby defeats Isner 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the semi-finals.
John Isner started the match out how you would expect, firing aces off at his opponent. Isner didn’t just rack up aces, he also racked up a break of serve. In the fourth game Isner hit a powerful forehand winner to earn a 3-1 lead. The rest of the set went routinely for Isner, he was able to earn a 6-3 first set victory.
A switch clicked in Brooksby at the beginning of the second set and it was a switch that would not turn off. The young American won the first five games of the second set, breaking the serve giant twice. Brooksby powered his way through game after game. He was able to keep the ball low and win the second set 6-1. Brooksby’s second set victory forced the set into a third deciding set.
Each competitor held their serve with ease for the first few games. In game seven, with the score 3-3, Brooksby broke Isner again. It was not easy, but the kid from Nor Cal broke Isner with a backhand winner. Just two games later it looked like Brooksby might collect a second break. Isner, however, would not make the same mistake twice and was able to get out of trouble with an expertly placed serve. Brooksby then went to serve out the match. With the crowd on their feet and the lights shining bright, Brooksby showed no signs of stress. He won the match with a serve that Isner could not quite get. Brooksby won the third set 6-4 and bewildered all who were watching.
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About the Atlanta Open
The Atlanta Open is held each year in July in Atlantic Station and is one of the summer tournaments in the US Open Series. The tournament features men’s top world tennis players in singles and doubles competition. Approximately 40,000 fans attend the tournament and bring an estimated economic impact of $10.3 million to Atlanta. John Isner won the 2021 title along with the 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014 and 2013 titles. Andy Roddick won his last ATP World Tour title when he defeated Gilles Muller at the 2012 BB&T Atlanta Open. Mardy Fish holds the title for 2011 and 2010. The tournament website is www.atlantaopentennis.com.
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