ATLANTA – Atlanta native Ben Shelton highlights a stellar list of players that will compete in the 2024 Atlanta Open. The 15-year-old tournament will be retired after this year along with five other 250-level tournaments.
Shelton, the 14th-ranked player in the world, made it through three rounds of the Mallorca Championships as the top seed before falling today in a tiebreaker to Paul Jubb (GBR) 6-3, 3-6. 7-6(8). He defeated Francis Tiafoe (5-7, 6-4, 3-6) to win the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston, TX. The left-hander is the son of former Georgia Tech tennis star and current women’s coach Bryan Shelton.
Since its inception in 2010, the tournament has welcomed scores of fans despite two changes in location before settling into its current space in Atlantic Station. Mardy Fish was the first to claim the tournament championship. He liked it so much he came back to win it the next year.
Andy Roddick, Nick Kyrgios, and 2023 winner Taylor Fritz are the only champions with only one singles title. Kyrgios returned six years later to win a doubles title with court partner Thanasi Kokkinakis. The tandem defeated Jason Kubler and John Peers in straight sets 7-6 (7-4), 7-5.
Former Georgia Bulldog John Isner is the winningest player at the Open. Isner has six tournament wins (2013-2015, 2017, 2018, 2021) and has played in nine finals. Now retired, the former tour player will return on Monday, July 22 to play alongside 2012 Atlanta Open winner Andy Roddick in the Champions Challenge. The pair will match up against 2019 doubles champions Bob and Mike Bryan.
A pair of tournament runner-ups return for another crack at the title. Brandon Nakashima a 2021 finalist and Aleksandar Vukic a 2023 finalist forced tiebreakers in their respective championship matches against Isner and Fritz. Three-time ATP Tour champion Francis Tiafoe is back to add another layer of difficulty to the draw. The Hyattsville, MD native first appeared in the Atlanta Open in 2017 and has a 3-4 match record in four appearances. Tiafoe defeated Nakashima (6-4, 6-2) in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Atlanta Open.
The Atlanta Open will once again host an exhibition match on Sunday, July 21. Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens return to Atlanta for a friendly match. Williams appeared in the first women’s exhibition match with Genie Bouchard in 2017. This will be Williams’ third appearance and Stephens’ second.
Tickets for the tournament can be purchased at the Atlanta Open tournament website.
Atlanta Open Direct Acceptances (with current world ranking)
| Player | Rank | Player | Rank |
| Shelton, Ben USA | 14 | Duckworth, James AUS | 78 |
| Mannarino, Adrian FRA | 22 | McDonald, Mackenzie USA | 80 |
| Tiafoe, Frances USA | 30 | Vukic, Aleksandar AUS | 81 |
| Thompson, Jordan AUS | 39 | Goffin, David BEL | 82 |
| Kecmanovic, Miomir SRB | 53 | Kovacevic, Aleksandar USA | 86 |
| Mpteshi Perricard, Giovanni FRA | 59 | Coric, Borna CRO | 89 |
| Nakashima, Brandon USA | 64 | Lestienne, Constant FRA | 90 |
| Rinderknech, Arthur FRA | 68 | Harris, Lloyd RSA | 91 |
| O’Connell, Christopher AUS | 76 | Kokkinakis, Thanasi AUS | 92 |
Tournament History
Singles
|
Year |
Champions |
Runners-up |
Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Mardy Fish | John Isner | 4–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–4) |
| 2011 | Mardy Fish (2) | John Isner | 3–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–2 |
| 2012 | Andy Roddick | Gilles Müller | 1–6, 7–6(7–2), 6–2 |
| 2013 | John Isner | Kevin Anderson | 6–7(3–7), 7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–2) |
| 2014 | John Isner (2) | Dudi Sela | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 2015 | John Isner (3) | Marcos Baghdatis | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 2016 | Nick Kyrgios | John Isner | 7–6(7–3), 7–6(7–4) |
| 2017 | John Isner (4) | Ryan Harrison | 7–6(8–6), 7–6(9–7) |
| 2018 | John Isner (5) | Ryan Harrison | 5–7, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 2019 | Alex de Minaur | Taylor Fritz | 6–3, 7–6(7–2) |
| 2020 |
Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic |
||
| 2021 | John Isner (6) | Brandon Nakashima | 7–6(10–8), 7–5 |
| 2022 | Alex de Minaur (2) | Jenson Brooksby | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 2023 | Taylor Fritz | Aleksandar Vukic | 7–5, 6–7(5–7), 6–4 |
Doubles 6–3, 6–7(4–7), [12–10]