Newcomer and unseeded David Jenkins flirted with the first major upset of the 2003 Argus Open tennis championships when he played fourth seed Jovan Whitter stroke for stroke, power for power late into the night before losing a nailbiter 6-4, 6-3 in a first round match that lasted for more than two hours at the Tennis Stadium.

The first set was on serve at four-all before the teenaged Whitter broke Jenkins then held for the set. The action was just as even in the second set when Whitter opened by breaking Jenkins at 30 then aced his opponent on game point to go up 2-0.

That ace appeared to be a wake-up call for Jenkins because he bounced back, saving one break point before holding and closing the gap to trail 1-2. The players stayed on serve until Whitter showed his brilliance in the eighth game.

With Jenkins playing even in stroke, power and ability, Whitter - though changing his game to a slower paced one - surprised his more experienced opponent when he unleashed two aces and an unreturnable serve for a 5-3 lead. The writing was then on the wall.

Serving to stay in the match, Jenkins brought out the best in young Whitter, when he sent down an ace, then hit a pinpoint forehand into the corner, rushed to the net and hit a deft drop shot for a winner - two points away from staying in the match.

Yet Whitter refused to buckle and came back with a running forehand shot that chipped the top of the net before falling into his opponent's court for the point. Now trailing 15-30 young Whitter took advantage of Jenkins' inability to get his first serve in, moving inside the baseline and attacking the next two serves, one with a stinging cross-court backhand and the other with a back-breaking drop shot.

That stroke, though not the final one, was the crowning stroke of the match, as Jenkins, desperately bidding to stay in the contest, saved three match points, and even held a game point. The night wasn't to be his, though, when he netted a dipping topspin shot. That was game, set and match.

“I knew he was going to be difficult from watching his play in another tournament, so I had to change my game, slow the action down a bit and use more variety in my strokes.

“Though it took longer than expected, in the end it worked, and that's what counts,” said Whitter, explaining his strategy.

The outcome was different in another match of youth against experience as fifth seed John Johnston defeated teenager Kris Frick 6-1, 6-4 in surprisingly easy fashion. The ease with which he won even surprised the victor.

“I expected that he would play a little bit better than he did,” said Johnston, “but he didn't, and that was a surprise. I know that he is a better player.”

Meanwhile, Eldon Daniels opened his tournament account with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Randy Bean, Jackie Lambert defeated Lucy Windsor 6-2, 6-0, Michael Musson came from a set down to defeat Chris Smith 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 and Christina Brouilette ousted Aileen Stuart 7-5, 7-5.

Sunday's Ed Sherlock Five Mile Road Race proved to be a repeat of last year as both Kavin Smith and Anna Eatherley easily defended their titles.

Smith romped home to victory in an impressive 26 minutes and 38 seconds, some two minutes and 13 seconds ahead of second-placed finisher Andrew Wadman. Top masters runner Sylvster Jean-Pierre placed third in a time of 29.50.

Eatherley was the first female to break the tape in a time of 32.46. The reigning Bermuda Marathon Derby champion finished 11th overall.

Former body builder turned runner, Georgia Wharton, finished second behind Eatherley in a time of 35.10 while Lisa Bean placed third in 39.22.

Sean Perinchief won the junior event (three miles) in a time of 19.04 while Rodney Smith (21.27) placed second and Delbert Doares Jr. (24.19) third. Shanea-Lynn Gilbert was the top junior female (38.06), placing eighth overall.