Semi-finalist Ryan Harrison @ryanharrison92 through the years 22 pictures @bbtatlantaopen #BBTAO

I've been a volunteer at the Atlanta Open (before it was the BB&T) since its second year, and have taken pictures and video - many of which make their way to this Atlanta Tennis Blog - of most of the players that compete here.

After Ryan Harrison's thrilling victory last night over Great Britain's Kyle Edmund, I remember that I'd taken quite a few of pictures of the youthful American at the Atlanta ATP tournament, and I thought I'd share the best of them here.  From the second Atlanta Open in July, 2011:

July, 2011 on the practice court; the tournament's third year

At what was The Racquet Club of the South (now Life Time Fitness)

Ryan Harrison on Stadium Court, which was too short per regulations, at the 2011 Atlanta Open

You can read details of Harrison's 3 set win (pictured above) over the "X man" Xavier Malisse here:

http://atlanta-tennis.blogspot.com/2011/07/atc-photos-rain-rain-go-away-and-dont.html

Then, the following year, at the very first BB&T Atlanta Open in July, 2012:

Ryan Harrison on Stadium Court at the Inaugural BB&T Atlanta Open - July, 2012

Harrison serving to American James Blake

Harrison was 20, Blake was 32 (and would retire at the US Open the following year)

Harrison took the first set 6-1

The Stadium Court configuration was different in 2012 than it is today (2017)

Ryan Harrison receiving serve from James Blake

Both players are/were known for their first serves, movement, and forehands

Blake took the second set 6-3

Blake won the match 1-6, 6-3, 7-5

After losing to Blake, Harrison was seen the next morning warming up eventual tournament winner Andy Roddick on the Grandstand Court (Stadium Court in the background):

Serving to Roddick

Hitting a backhand

Hitting a forehand

A good hit between Ryan Harrison and Andy Roddick, now a Hall of Famer (the 2012 BB&T was his last tournament win)

Harrison teamed with Australian Matthew Ebden to win the men's doubles title that year.

Matthew Ebden and Ryan Harrison won the Inaugural BB&T Atlanta Open doubles title in 2012

A recap with pictures and video of the Harrison-Ebden doubles match can be read/seen here:
http://atlanta-tennis.blogspot.com/2012/07/bb-atlanta-open-sundays-finals-recap.html

In July, 2013, I captured these pictures of Ryan Harrison's second round match against Igor SijSling:

Harrison hitting a backhand

Harrison hitting a running forehand

Another Harrison forehand

Harrison wins the first set

Harrison wins the match to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2013 BB&T Atlanta Open

I hope that you have enjoyed this pictures of Ryan Harrison through the years at the Atlanta Open!

Last night, after Harrison said "Go Tech!" in his post match on-court interview with Brad Gilbert, I wanted to say "Go Ryan, beat the big dawg!!!"

2017 BB&T Atlanta Open #BBTAO @bbtatlantaopen Harrison vs. Millman video and pictures - July 27, 2017

I was able to capture the end of the first set between American Ryan Harrison and Australian John Millman, which Millman won 6-4 before losing to Harrison in 3 sets.

And here are a couple of pictures, Millman serving to Harrison, from that match:

2017 BB&T Atlanta Open #BBTAO @bbtatlantaopen rain delay video and pictures - July 27, 2017

I captured a video and some pictures of the storm approaching the Grandstand court, and over the Stadium Court:

2017 BB&T Atlanta Open #BBTAO @bbtatlantaopen Edmund vs. Gojowczyk videos and pictures - July 27, 2017

Thursday was perhaps the longest day for tennis at the 2017 BB&T Atlanta Open, at least as far as when it ended.  Though matches began at earlier times during the week, they didn't start until 2 PM yesterday and, with a full slate planned, rain delayed their completion until the wee hours of Friday morning.

I got a chance to watch a lot of Great Britain's Kyle Edmund's match against Germany's Peter Gojowczyk.  After breaking Edmund twice in the first set and taking it 6-2, the German lost the next two after an extended rain delay.

2017 BB&T Atlanta Open #BBTAO @bbtatlantaopen Wednesday, July 26 recap

A beautiful (if hot) day for tennis without rain (first time this week?) featured several upsets in both singles and doubles, with many matches being decided in 3 sets.  American Tommy Paul moved forward with a win over Malek Jaziri, the only player from Tunisia on the ATP tour, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3.

Presiding over the match was Mohamed Lahyani of Sweden

While this was going on, the second seeded doubles team - and 2017 French Open Champions - Ryan Harrison and Michael Venus were being beaten in three sets by Argentine's Andres Molteni and Canadian Adil Shamasdin, who won 6-4, 0-6, 10-7.

Almost looks like a foot-fault, right?

2017 Wimbledon giant killer Gilles Muller, who beat Rafael Nadal in a match that culminated in a 15-13 fifth set, took three sets to beat France's Quentin Halys, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3.  In a bizarre, extremely rare occurrence, the net cable snapped in the third game, causing an almost 20 minute delay after which the players were allowed a five minute warm-up:

Atlanta's heat and humidity were too much for this net

The next match up on the Stadium Court featured Atlanta native Donald Young and Lukas Lacko, whose forehand was the difference.  The Slovakian beat the American in less than an hour, 6-3, 6-1.

Donald Young has rarely played well in Atlanta

This was followed by the evening's featured match between three-time BB&T Atlanta Open Champion and University of Georgia star John Isner and Canadian Vasek Pospisil, which the big man won in short order, 6-4, 6-3.

Pospisil & Jack Sock won the 2014 Wimbledon doubles title

Will Isner win his fourth BB&T?

Thursday's lineup will include fourth seeded Ryan Harrison's first singles match (vs. Australian John Millman), followed by Georgia Tech's Christopher Eubanks vs. up-and-comer Jared Donaldson, and top-seeded Jack Sock's first singles match (vs. the diminutive Dudi Sela), all on the Stadium Court.

I have to thank my volunteer coordinator Claire and the tournament's volunteer coordinator Jane for giving me a Stadium Court pass for yesterday; I really appreciated it and it has been my honor to serve in Volunteer Services.  Today is my last day, recap with pictures tomorrow.

2017 BB&T Atlanta Tennis Open #BBTAO Tuesday, July 25 recap

I finally got to see some tennis yesterday, Tuesday, July 25, from the volunteer viewing area atop the Stadium Court:

View of the Stadium Court setup

That's the place, just under the American flag, to the right of "Coca Cola":

Volunteer viewing area atop the Stadium Court

I got to see a little bit of the match between Reilly Opelka and Malek Jaziri; after the American squandered match points in the second set, the Tunisian won the tiebreaker 16-14, and the third 6-1:

Jaziri serves to Opelka

I also got to see the end of the first set of Atlantan Donald Young's straight set victory over American Tim Smyczek and captured his exultant scream as he came back from serving at 5-4, 0-40 to take the first set on video:

Perhaps the biggest news from Tuesday's first round matches was local favorite Georgia Tech's Christopher Eubanks first ATP main Tour win, in straight sets, over favored, tour up-and-comer Taylor Fritz last night.  Go Jackets!

Others moving on to the second round include Americans Jared Donaldson and Tommy Paul, Great Britain's Kyle Edmund, Israel's Dudi Sela, Slovakian Lukas Lacko, and Canadian Vasek Pospisil.

The 2017 BB&T Atlanta Open Tennis Tournament is underway!

Although I didn't get to see any tennis today - my shift was ending just as the rain was starting - I did enjoy my first volunteer gig for the tournament since 2014.  Since I'm 'working' in volunteer services, I assisted with lunch today, asking "sandwich or wrap", then serving it and directing other volunteers to the condiments,chips and drinks.  Thrilling, right?

Actually it was a lot of fun because it's a people business; I saw some familiar faces - including my coordinator Claire, who's been with the Atlanta tournament all but the first year - and met some new folks like Louis and Tricia, the other coodinator.  So much fun, am looking forward to my shifts Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this coming week.  Don't forget to stop by and say hello!

Looking forward to returning to the BB&T Atlanta Open after a 3 year absence!  I will be volunteering in Volunteer Services this time, as the Scorekeeper and Court Monitor roles are no longer volunteer positions.  I'll be there this Saturday, then next Tuesday-Thursday during the day.  Stop by and say hello if you'd like.

I hope to be posting pictures and summaries of matches that I'll watch from the new covered volunteer watching area.  In the past, volunteers got two tickets to a day or night session before the quarterfinals began on Friday.  So, I guess I won't be down there on championship weekend;-)