Players with ties to Georgia Tech and Alabama along with and American tennis prodigy will be on display on opening day of the Qualifying Tournament at the BB&T Atlanta Open.
Georgia Tech’s Nathan Rakitt, an All-ACC selection ,will face fellow American Michael Shavaz .
Wild Card Challenge winner Korey Lovett will meet Facundo Mena from Argentina. Lovett is an incoming freshman at Alabama, from Brevard, N.C.
Alabama’s Becker O’Shaughnessey will meet Mexico’s Santiago Gonzalez. O’Shaughnessey, a Macon, Ga. native, led Bama with 22 singles wins last season.
Fans at Atlantic State will get a glimpse into the future of American tennis when 16-year old Francis Tiafoe makes his BB&T Atlanta Open debut. The young prodigy, ranked as the No. 2 American junior, will play 31-year-old Benjamin Balleret.
Also,former Georgia Tech All-American Juan-Carlos Spir will play American Andrew Carter. Spir’s former Georgia Tech doubles partner Kevin King received a first round bye and will play his first qualifying round match on Sunday. Last year ,at Atlantic Station, King played his way through the qualifying rounds and earned his first spot in an ATP main draw.
Play begins Saturday morning at 10am .
