local tennis scene this week when they participate in the Heineken Bermuda Open.

The tournament, which begins tomorrow at the Tennis Stadium, will feature a beefed-up field with the addition of Mallory and Towlson, and a rare appearance by David Lambert, the tennis professionals representative on the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) executive.

Mallory, winner of last year's tournament over Mike Curry, will be competing in his first tournament of the year after returning to Bermuda from Philadelphia where he is attending school. Towlson, meanwhile, had taken a break from tennis after giving birth.

The tournament, long recognised as one of the Island's biggest and officially sanctioned by the BLTA, will run until May 22. Last year the tournament was held in late October because of work being done on the stadium's main courts.

The addition of Mallory is expected to mean stiffer competition for Michael Way, who romped to victories in the men's A singles division during the All Bermuda Tennis Club's Open International tournament.

Way defeated Gary Weller, Keith Beattie, Tony Readwin and Jerome Bradshaw in capturing the title. Even more impressive, however, is that Way dropped only one set -- to Beattie in the third round.

"I'll have to be on my game,'' Way said yesterday when told that Mallory will be pencilled in for the tournament. "He hits the ball harder than anyone else on the Island and he's consistent. His ground strokes are real good. I'll have to stay with him, maybe attack a little bit.'' "Apparently, he's (Mallory) playing really well,'' said Sheila Gomez, a BLTA executive committee member who acknowledged the tournament will be boosted by the presence of Mallory and Towlson.

Mallory should be in top physical shape after playing soccer this season for Vasco, the FA Cup winners.

Bradshaw lost to Way 6-2, 6-2 in the ABTC finals but also saw action in the men's doubles (with Alec Anderson) and mixed doubles (with Diane Olchowik). He has opted to play in only mixed doubles and singles during the Open. He will, however, team up with sister Donna this time around.

"I don't plan on changing anything else,'' said Bradshaw, when asked if he expects to include any new wrinkles against opponents during this tournament.

Bradshaw, who has been troubled by knee injuries, appeared tired following his loss to Way a few weeks ago.

"I haven't even practised, but I've watched a lot of tennis on TV. I plan to rely on my strengths, my strong serve and my thought process.'' The tournament will be without top women's player Wendy Gelhay who is getting married on Saturday. Her absence now means that Sheila Gomez will team up with Debbie Darrell in women's doubles. Gomez and Gelhay won the doubles title of the ABTC tournament over Shelly Eve and Laverne Jones.

Gomez, however, is hoping to make signficant inroads in A singles.

"This is my tournament to get back into shape,'' said Gomez. "Last year I took a bit of a break, I've started running and I'm hitting the ball against the wall during lunch. It's going to be a tough tournament.'' Attention should also be focussed on Jacqui White, who lost the ABTC women's A final to Bradshaw 6-2, 6-0.

"My singles game is coming on and I've been working on my serve,'' said White. "We'll see how it goes.' White will once again team up with Ailsa Campbell in doubles (the pair were ousted in the fourth round) and she will be paired with Martin Zolnai in mixed doubles.

Oliver Bain, who defeated John Sharpe in the men's B singles of the ABTC tournament, will only see action in men's senior singles this time out where he will be looking to avenge his 6-1, 6-3 loss to Earl Leader.

MICHAEL WAY -- Wary of the returning Ricky Mallory.

DONNA BRADSHAW -- Setting the standard for women's tennis.