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The Atlanta Open provided a strong showcase for the value of college tennis, with numerous former, current and committed players littering the draws.

At least 30 players representing close to 20 college programs graced the courts at Atlantic Station.

Australian Aleksandar Vukic (University of Illinois) made a sterling run through the draw, reaching the first ATP singles final of his career before losing to top-seeded American Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-4 on Sunday.

Vukic, a three-time All-American for the Illini between 2014-18, won more matches in Atlanta than he had for the entire 2023 ATP Tour this year (3-8 entering the event). He had never advanced beyond the singles quarterfinals of an ATP event before the weekend. Vukic jumped from No. 82 to No. 61 in the ATP Live Rankings.

No. 8 JJ Wolf (Ohio State) reached the semifinals, where he lost to Fritz 6-3, 7-5. Wolf beat Dominic Koepfer (Tulane) 6-2, 6-3 in the quarterfinals while making just one unforced error, and beat Maxime Cressy (UCLA) in the Round of 16.

Coming off a run to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, Atlanta native Chris Eubanks (Georgia Tech) lost to Vukic in the 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. In a battle of former and current Georgia Tech standouts, Eubanks defeated Yellow Jacket junior Andres Martin 6-2, 6-4 in the Round of 32.

The last two NCAA singles champions were featured in the event with Ethan Quinn (Georgia) and Ben Shelton (Florida) falling in the first round. Quinn, who was given a wild card, lost to Vukic 7-6(5), 6-3, and Shelton lost to Juncheng Shang 6-4, 6-4.

After reaching the final the week before at the Hall of Fame Open in Newport, R.I., Georgia commit Alex Michelsen lost to Cressy 6-3, 6-3 in the first round. Perennial Atlanta Open standout John Isner (Georgia), who Michelsen beat in the semifinals of the Hall of Fame Open, fell to Koepfer 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(3) in the first round.

In doubles, No. 4 Nathaniel Lammons (SMU) and Jackson Withrow (Texas A&M) captured their second straight ATP title with a 7-6(4), 7-6(4) victory over Australians Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson.

Lammons and Withrow, who claimed the crown at the Hall of Fame Open, have won 11 of their last 12 matches as they try to qualify for the ATP Finals for the first time.

Lammons and Withrow defeated Julian Cash (Mississippi State, Oklahoma State) and Rob Galloway (Wofford) 7-6(8), 6-4 in the semifinals. Cash and Galloway beat Evan King (Michigan) and Constant Lestienne 7-5, 3-6, 10-7 in the quarterfinals

No. 3 Marcelo Melo and John Peers (Middle Tennessee State, Baylor) lost to Purcell and Thompson 7-6(4), 6-3 in the semifinals. Rajeev Ram (Illinois) and William Blumberg (North Carolina) lost to Melo and Peers 6-3, 3-6, 13-11 in the quarterfinals.

Purcell and Thompson upset No. 1 Jamie Murray and Michael Venus (LSU) 6-4, 6-2 in the first round before eliminating former Georgia teammates Quinn and Trent Bryde 6-4, 6-7(2), 10-2 in the quarterfinals.

[[Full Atlanta Open PHOTO GALLERY from Bill Kallenberg]]

ATLANTA OPEN COLLEGE TIES

Main Draw Singles

Chris Eubanks (Georgia Tech)

Dominik Koepfer (Tulane)

Aleks Vukic (Illinois)

Alex Michelson (Georgia commit)

Andres Martin (Georgia Tech)

John Isner (Georgia)

Brandon Nakashima (Virginia)

JJ Wolf (Ohio State)

Marcos Giron (UCLA)

Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA)

Max Cressy (UCLA)

Nuno Borges (Mississippi State)

Ben Shelton (Florida)

Ethan Quinn (Georgia)

Qualifying Singles

Tennys Sandgren (Tennessee)

Keshav Chopra (Georgia Tech)

Kevin King (Georgia Tech)

Bradley Klahn (Stanford)

Mitchell Krueger (Texas A&M)

Jason Jung (Michigan)

Main Draw Doubles

Rajeev Ram (Illinois)

William Blumberg (North Carolina)

Michael Venus (LSU)

John Peers (Middle Tennessee State, Baylor)

John-Patrick Smith (Tennessee)

Rob Galloway (Wofford)

Julian Cash (Mississippi State, Oklahoma State)

Nate Lammons (SMU)

Jackson Withrow (Texas A&M)

Trent Bryde (Georgia)

Ben McLachlan (Cal)

Evan King (Michigan)

Reese Stalder (TCU)

Saketh Myneni (Alabama)

Ben Shelton

Ethan Quinn

Kevin King

Andres Martin

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About Rhiannon Potkey

Rhiannon Potkey is a veteran sportswriter with more than two decades of experience in journalism. Potkey has covered many sports at many levels and has a passion for finding great stories. Potkey has covered the U.S. Open, junior sectional and national events, college conference championships and Davis Cup matches. Potkey is currently Content Strategist for Tennis Recruiting. You can reach Rhiannon by email at [email protected].