The Atlanta Tennis Championships began this morning when the competing qualifiers took the court at 10 a.m. Nearly 1,600 spectators have come out to the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, GA, to watch 26 competitors vie for four places into the Main Draw, which will be announced later today.

 

The huge turnout vastly exceeded tournament expectations. A few hundred fans watching qualifying is the normal crowd for a day's session of qualifying in a tournament of this scope.

 

Mark Verryth (AUS) won the first point of the tournament against opponent Frank Dancevic (CAN) and Cecil Mamiit (PHI) defeated Matt Reid (AUS) 6-2, 6-4 to be the first qualifier to advance into the next round, along with six other players who received byes. The third match to open the tournament was Michael Shabaz (USA) and Luka Gregorc (SLO).