Advertisement
Events 
Infinite Energy Atlanta Slam
Infinite Energy Atlanta Slam
Tuesday, 16 December 2008 00:00
Infinite Energy Atlanta Slam
Written by Christina Ward
On Saturday, December 13, 2008 the second annual Infinite Energy Atlanta Slam exhibition was held at the Arena which is located at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia. Heading the line up was the ATP’s number ten ranked player James Blake. Sam Querrey returned for the second year in a row. Currently ranked number 39 he is starting to make his mark on the main tour. Bob and Mike Bryan, the number two doubles team in the world as well as Atlanta’s own tennis playing brothers Luke and Murphy Jensen were also in attendance. As if that wasn’t enough, David Williams and Harlan Matthews, both wheelchair players, attended and took part in the event.The daytime portion of the event began with the players hosting a kid’s clinic for Atlanta area children. The pros worked on forehand and backhand drills with the lucky kids. After the clinic, the children paired up and had the chance to play doubles points with the Bryan brothers. Afterwards the youngsters had a chance to hit one on one with both Blake and Querrey.
The evening program began with a Run/Roll exhibition match featuring David Williams and Harlan Matthews. A set of what could be called mixed doubles followed with Luke Jensen and Harlan Matthews playing what was a very entertaining set of tennis against Murphy Jensen and David Williams.
In the battle of the brothers, the 2008 U.S. Open champions, Bob and Mike Bryan, competed against Luke and Murphy Jensen. The Bryan brothers showed no mercy to the 1993 French Open champions and won the first set 6-0. Bob Bryan and Luke Jensen teamed up to win the second set in a tiebreak against Mike Bryan and Murphy Jensen.
Atlanta area residents, Paul Mancini and Andre Janasik, won the Heineken Lite Tiebreak Challenge and the chance to play against Bob and Mike Bryan. The Bryan brothers won the super tiebreak 10-4.
In the featured singles match, Sam Querrey played against James Blake. Querrey used his powerful serve and forehand to win 7-6(1), 6-3.
After the doubles match, Mike Bryan auctioned off the racquet that he used to win the U.S. Open and his shirt and hat from the exhibition. An audience member had a winning bid of $2700. After the singles match, a female spectator had a winning bid of $1500 to not only keep Blake’s shirt but to also personally take the shirt off his back on court. All proceeds from the exhibition went to the Georgia Tennis Foundation.
All in all it was a great day of tennis for both spectators and the youngsters who participated.
Photos from the Infinite Energy Atlanta Slam Tennis Exhibition.
Photos: Christina Ward
Published in
Tennis Events