Ryan Harrison and Grigor Dimitrov Bring ATP Youth Movement to Atlanta

NORCROSS, Georgia - Take a little path, walk around some Georgia pines, and about 50 yards from the beautiful stadium court at the Racquet Club of the South stands picturesque court 1.  On Tuesday of the Atlanta Tennis Championships, two of the most promising players on the ATP Tour were showing their wares on these two courts at the same time, but on this day, with different results.

Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria and American Ryan Harrison have arrived on the professional tennis scene and the sky is the limit for these two right-handed tennis machines that seem ready to make a move, possibly as early as this summer.

Harrison took to the stadium court in the late afternoon with a huge crowd wanting to see why many are calling him the “Future of American Tennis.”  He didn’t disappoint as he dispatched Japanese upstart, Yuichi Sugita 6-1, 7-6.  

Harrison admits his ranking isn't where it needs to be, but don’t expect it to remain there for long.  He was more than happy to entertain the predominately female crowd with big forehands and hustling from sideline to sideline before hitting a winner.  Next up for Harrison, a date with a tricky Belgian, Xavier Malisse.  

Dimitrov, the higher ranked of the two was up next against qualifier Rajeev Ram on court 1.  The 20-year old from Haskovo, Bulgaria showed flashes of why he has shot up the rankings so fast, but he needs to learn how to win matches against veteran players who "think" on the court.  Such was the case with Ram.  Dimitrov has talent flowing out of his sweat glands, but Ram played the big points better and won 6-4, 6-4.  

Dimitrov doesn’t appear to be the kind of athlete bothered by the occasional bad loss, and he will win a lot of matches this summer and the rest of 2011.  

Dimitrov is currently ranked in the 60’s and Harrison is sitting in the 120’s.  Don’t be surprised if both of these gifted players are knocking on the top-30 by next year’s Australian Open.