Ginepri Returns To Defeat Haas at Atlanta Tennis Championships

Former top-15 player and local hero Robby Ginepri made a triumphant return to the ATP World Tour as he defeated Tommy Haas 6-4, 7-5 in the first round.

In his first tour-level appearance since the 2010 US Open, American Robby Ginepri defeated German Tommy Haas 6-4, 7-5 in one hour and 44 minutes. The 29-year-old Georgia resident, a former World No. 15, had been sidelined since injuring his arm in a biking accident last September.

Hass is also coming back from an injury and is competing in only his fifth tournament of the year.

Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt won 89 percent of his first serve points to dismiss American qualifier Phillip Simmonds 6-4, 6-4. Hewitt was down a break early in the first set but won it back quickly and only faced one more break point the entire match.

Two seeds fell to qualifiers. Rajeev Ram took out fifth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria. Marinko Matosevic toppled Igor Kunitsyn 6-7(3), 6-2, 7-5.

Wednesday's Matchups: (matches begin at 4 p.m.)

 - Michael Russell (USA) vs. Kevin Anderson (RSA)
 - Giles Muller (LUX) vs. Robby Ginepri (USA)
 - James Blake (USA) vs. John Isner (USA)
 - Scott Lipsky (USA) and Rajeev Ram (USA)

vs.

Drake Bernstein (USA) and Kevin King (USA)

Some tickets still available, call 678-495-3279, email tickets@atlantatennischampionships.com or visit www.atlantatennischampionships.com

Editor's note: Ron Cioffi, USTA Southern Director of Communications, contributed to this story. Other sources include the ATP World Tour.