The ATP summer hard court season of 2010, named as the Olympus US Open Series, officially kicked off by the Atlanta Tennis Championships. After nine years, once again Atlanta has the privilege to host some of the world’s best male tennis players.

There has already been plenty of action during the qualifying stages on the weekend, although Monday July 19 was the opening day of the Atlanta Tennis Championships. There were some doubles matches and only a few singles matches, on day one.

The Americans had a great start and won their first round matches in Atlanta, as Michael Russell, Rajeev Ram and Mardy Fish. Over Karol Beck, Ram won 6-4 7-6(4), Russell upset eight seed Benjamin Becker 6-3 6-3 and Fish took out James Ward 6-1 6-2. Ukranian Illya Marchenko and the German veteran Rainer Schuettler were the other first round winners.

On the doubles side, fellow Americans Ryan Sweeting and Robby Ginepri were taken out by James Blake and John Isner 3-6 6-4 10-3. The duo of Jonathan Erlich and Janko Tipsarevic knocked out top seeds Fleming and Skupski. Additionally, Kevin Anderson and Michael Russell defeated fourth seeded doubles team of Hutchins and Kerr. Overall, for the Americans on the singles and doubles sides, it was an excellent day.

First seed Andy Roddick is the focus of the tournament. There are expectations for Roddick to make a real impact in the hard court season leading to the US Open, after a disappointing early loss at the grass courts of Wimbledon. Roddick will face Rajeev Ram in the second round and he got a bye in the first round.