Young Enjoying Home Court Advantage In Atlanta

Players often take about having a home court advantage, but Donald Young literally has one this week at the BB&T Atlanta Open.

The seventh seed took ATPWorldTour.com behind the scenes of his swanky Atlantic Station apartment, located just a few blocks from the tournament courts. Complete with a pool table, gym area and picturesque views of downtown Atlanta, Young is enjoying all the creature comforts of home when he’s not playing and practising in front of local supporters.

“It’s like a two-minute walk. It’s the best lodging to site all year for me. So I enjoy it,” he said. “I’m sleeping great. My bed. My pillows. It feels good.”

Being so close to home is also providing Young with extra incentive to stick around in the tournament. Having lost in the opening round of his four previous visits to the BB&T Atlanta Open, he fought off two match points on Monday to win his first-round match over fellow American Austin Krajicek.

“Me and my friends joke – I love playing [here] but I don’t play well,” he said. “I didn’t want to go out like that. I didn’t want Monday to be my last day at the tournament and have to watch it from my window.”

Next up for Young is a second-round clash against another American in Tim Smyczek.