The BB&T Atlanta Open draw was revealed on Saturday afternoon and it is led by three-time defending champion John Isner. Atlanta’s top seed is joined by first-time participants Nick Kyrgios and Fernando Verdasco, who have already arrived to get ready for the 2016 U.S. Open Series’ opening event.
Kyrgios and Verdasco are on a collision course for the quarterfinals at the bottom of the bracket. The No. 2 seed owns a first-round bye before facing either Sam Groth or American wild card Jared Donaldson. Verdasco will have to get past Dusan Lajovic and then possibly Julien Benneteau in order to reach the last eight.
Verdasco on the plane on Friday:
Can't wait to get to #Atlanta #FirstTime 😉👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/C6ioOG0GZ3
— Fernando Verdasco (@FerVerdasco) July 29, 2016
Kyrgios also tweeted on Saturday afternoon that he was heading for Atlanta, and he also retweeted a screenshot of a fan’s phone that showed a Pokemon character in Atlantic Station, where the tournament is being held. That is surely music to the Australian’s ears, as he is one of the most avid Pokemon Go players on the ATP Tour.
Atlanta bound 😴👋🏾😛
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) July 30, 2016
@NickKyrgios Ha ha, welcome to #Atlanta #PokemonGO Hope you win the tournament. #bbtatlantaopen #tennis pic.twitter.com/xNhDPTEgmf
— Nicky Popps (@nickolaika) July 31, 2016
As for Isner, his bid for a fourth consecutive title will begin against either Adrian Mannarino or a qualifier. With the withdrawals of Lucas Pouille and Benoit Paire, among others, Taylor Fritz snagged the eighth and final seed. The 18-year-old American could face Isner in the quarters. A potential Isner vs. Kevin Anderson semifinal would be a rematch of the 2013 final that ended in a third-set tiebreaker.
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Isner or FIELD?
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It will be very interesting to see if Kyrgios mails it in again.