Tennis Atlantic

ERV vs. Hewitt, Return of Fish Headline ATL Day 4

Atlanta, July 22, 2013– Day 4 in Atlanta! The first big day of main draw action will be headlined by a pair of stadium court matches starting at 4 PM.

Edouard Roger-Vasselin will face Lleyton Hewitt. Then, in the first night session match, Mardy Fish returns to the ATP tour against fellow American Michael Russell.  Fish/Russell will be followed on stadium by qualifier Tim Smyczek vs. James Blake, and preceded by a doubles match between the Harrison Brothers and Ivan Dodig/Marcelo Melo.

Fish has been spotted around the grounds in a jovial mood, and from what I’ve seen of him on the practice courts, he looks to be playing well. He won a practice set against Ryan Harrison 6-4 on Sunday, and won a practice set against Lleyton Hewitt on Monday. Russell also seems to be in good spirits, for what it’s worth.  Hewitt, meanwhile, has the kids with him again this week.

In outer court action, which starts at 2 and 3 p.m., Ricardas Berankis, who was at the USTA autograph tent on Monday night, will face qualifier Zverev on Court 3 followed by Rajeev Ram vs. Evgeny Donskoy, and Erlich/Andy Ram vs. Lu/Matosevic.

On the Grandstand, it will be Rendy Lu vs. qualifier King, Jack Sock vs. Santiago Giraldo and Lukas Lacko vs. Denis Istomin in that order.

Sock was checking out the Smyczek-Young match from the suite on Monday, and seemed to be in a good mood, working with USTA coach Jay Berger this week and enjoying a frozen lemonade.

>—Steen Kirby