Shotgun Qualifying Begins at Tennis Channel Open

Since there is no traditional overhand serve in Shotgun 21, players feed out of the hand like in ping pong and play first one to 21. Players alternate feeding after every 5 feeds and alternate from the ad to the deuce court after each player has fed to a particular side. Players can feed to anywhere on the side they are serving as long as it is within the singles area (service box and backcourt) and on the targeted side of the court.

Winners among the amateurs Thursday advance to the event Friday that features pros, with the winners receiving spots in the weekend qualifying draw for the main events in men's and women's singles.

The concept has been used for years at the Palisades Tennis Center in Los Angeles and lends itself to a faster match with a much higher concentration of exciting points. Matches usually last about 15 minutes.

Men and women will potentially be competing in the same draw and playing against each other. The mixed gender event is exciting but does not necessarily significantly reduce the odds of either a man or a woman advancing in their respective events by virtue of the scoring format.

All female players who lose to a male will have a consolation draw that will allow them to stay in contention for a wildcard into the women's qualies.

Participants are playing to win at least two men's and two women's wildcards.