Atlanta Open fans sad to see it end after 14 years

ExploreIsner and Roddick lose to the Bryan brothers in an exhibition match at the Atlanta Open

With the ATP, which oversees men’s professional tennis, canceling the Atlanta Open, the closest major tournaments will be in Miami, Cincinnati and Dallas. “It’s either a very long drive or a plane ride,” McClain said. “With the hotel and tickets to the event, it gets expensive.”

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Alex Nelson, a ninth-grader and age-group player from Alabama, came to the tournament with his tennis coach and father Trey from Birmingham. Alex, 14, said this was his third time playing in the Atlanta Open and he was going to miss it.

“We have good access to the players,” he said, referring to Georgia Tech’s practice courts and the main stadium. He even saw top-seeded U.S. tennis pro Ben Shelton at the Publix earlier in the day in Atlantic Station.

Jana Wood, national sales director for Modern Luxury magazine and a tennis player who is rehabbing an ACL injury, came with her husband and three children. “How tall do you think John Isner is?” she asked her son as he, who is 6’2″, warmed up.

Wood has played in the Open 10 times in the event’s 14 years, including her first year at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek. “It’s such an important tennis town,” she said. “It’s a shame it’s going away.”

She also appreciated Atlantic Station as a comfortable location for this event.

“It’s a nice neighborhood with restaurants, shops and stores,” Wood said. “At the Atlanta Athletic Club, we parked in a dirt lot and walked there.”

ExploreThe History of the Atlanta Open Since 2010

On the court, Isner, who retired last year after 17 years on the professional tour, hit his go-to serves with minimal effort. Roddick, who won his last ATP tournament at the Atlanta Open in 2012, was rustier. The Bryan brothers, the most successful men’s doubles team in professional tennis and winners of 16 Grand Slam titles, retired in 2020 but managed to prevail 7-6, 7-5 against two better-known players.

Luke Jensen, himself a former professional tennis player from Atlanta, sat in the judge’s chair but was more courtroom jester than umpire, a freedom he enjoyed since the match had nothing at stake beyond the players’ egos.

After one of the Bryan brothers tried to lob Isner over his head and failed, Jensen said, “He’s 6’3! Who tries to lob a man who’s 6’3?” The crowd laughed.

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When Roddick hit a forehand winner against the brothers, Jensen exclaimed, “He can still play! Andy, you can sit down and take a break!”

Moments later, after Roddick hit a ball wide, Jensen joked, “Actually, he can’t I do not play anymore !

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For Eddie Gonzalez, tournament director for a decade through 2022, coming back one last time was like a family reunion to see staff, volunteers and sponsors.

His predecessor, Bob Bryant, was thrilled to be able to attend the tournament himself for the first time in a decade. What made it even more special was the presence of his 13-year-old son, Baxter, as ball boy.

“The stadium and the facilities are more professional and more polished” than when he was there, Bryant said. “The atmosphere at Atlantic Station is always very cool, and Midtown is electric, especially at night. There aren’t many venues like this on the World Tour, and we’re going to miss it.”