Sam Querrey is the No. 2 American in the world rankings.
© Susan Mullane/camerawork usa
Gael Monfils has reached 21 tour singles finals in his career.
By BB&T Atlanta Open Staff
In its fifth year, the BB&T Atlanta Open has secured two new, exciting players with Top 20 credentials: Sam Querrey and Gael Monfils. This will be the first time either player has competed in the BB&T Atlanta Open, which runs July 19-27.
Querrey, who rose to No. 17 in 2011, has won seven ATP titles, including three in Los Angeles as well as individual crowns in London/Queen’s Club, Memphis, Belgrade and Las Vegas. The 6-foot-6 California native has also made five finals on the pro tour.
In addition to his singles game, Querrey has also committed to playing doubles. Querrey has won four doubles titles, playing with reigning champion John Isner twice, and once with two-time Atlanta winner Mardy Fish and former BB&T Atlanta Open competitor James Blake. The Davis Cup stalwart also has reached finals on American soil in 15 cities out of his 20 appearances.
“I’m really looking forward to playing Atlanta for the first time,” Querrey said. “I know John Isner, whom I’ve won two doubles titles with, has had great success there and I want to go head-to-head with him and the rest of the field.”
With Isner already signed to play this July, the tournament now has the top two Americans ready to compete in the first men’s event in the Emirates Airline US Open Series, the road to America’s Grand Slam in New York.
Native-born Parisian Gael Monfils has a unique background, with parents hailing from the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Also known as the “Flying Frenchman,” Monfils’ acrobatic leaping and athletic ability is a main-stage show all by itself. His skyrocketing style got him to No. 7 in the world just three years ago. Coming back from injury, he has used the last six months to rise from No. 106 to No. 23 in the world, with his latest victory earlier this month at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier.
“I’ve heard so much about Atlanta as an international city which hosted the Summer Olympics,” said Monfils. “It is also a city known for its diversity and a large tennis playing population. I look forward to playing in its unique venue, too.”
Monfils has reached 21 singles finals and taken in more than $7 million in career prize money. His five tour victories have come in Montpellier (twice), Stockholm, Metz and Sopot.
“We’re bringing in two new faces to Atlanta,” said Tournament Director and Chief Development Officer Eddie Gonzalez. “These are two exciting players who will add a new look to the tournament: an American who will bolster our country’s profile in Atlanta and a European who has wowed crowds around the globe.”
On Monday, March 3, coinciding with World Tennis Day, Weeklong Ticket Packages will go on sale. Weeklong Ticket Packages include a ticket to all 11 sessions at Atlantic Station. Four different seating levels are offered and packages are priced as low as $35/ticket. Tickets will be available for purchase at www.bbtatlantaopen.com or by calling 404-941-9202.