tennis when he plays in the Colonial Open at Pomander Gate next week.

Four years ago, Frigerio was arguably the best player on the Island when he won the Heineken Open and Pomander Gate Open and finished 1996 with a singles record of eight wins and no losses in major tournaments.

Even though his lack of tournament play last year due to work and family commitments means he does not appear in the top 10 of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association rankings published this week, his abilities are still regarded highly and hence he is seeded three.

Frigerio admitted his game might be a little rusty, but still fancied his chances of doing well in the event, which starts on Sunday.

"I have to think I have a chance,'' said Frigerio. "I haven't had a chance to practise much, but I am in pretty decent shape.

"Coming into tournaments like this, I always try to use the early matches to work myself into better form.

"I don't usually play doubles, but this time I am doing, with Mark Cordeiro.

I think it will help my game to play more tennis.'' Frigerio made his comeback to major tournaments in April's Heineken Open at the Tennis Stadium where he reached the semi-finals, but a back injury forced him to retire.

He rated the men seeded above him, number one Ricky Mallory and number two Jenson Bascome, as the ones to watch.

"Those two guys have played a lot more tennis than me this year, especially Jenson, who's been playing a lot at college, but I never go into a tournament thinking I don't have a chance of winning it.'' Frigerio's chances to practise have been limited by his finance job which requires him to work unsociable hours and his young family -- he has a two-year-old boy and his wife is expecting their second child soon.

"I enjoy the tournaments and I still have a desire to play, but between family and work, it's not always easy to play at the times when other people can,'' added Frigerio.

Frigerio will play Norwegian Vidar Lunoe in the first round.

Bascome, the Port Royal Open champion, could dislodge Mallory from the top of the BLTA rankings if he should win the tournament. Number four seed Eldon Daniels will also be a contender, as he looks to follow up his Heineken Open triumph with a second title in 2000.

Only 11 players have entered the women's A singles competition and top seed Zarah DeSilva, home from her Florida school, will start favourite. The 16-year-old Federation Cup player showed her title-winning credentials when she beat Laverne Stowe to win the Heineken Open, her first major domestic title.

Stowe is seeded three at Pomander Gate, while Fed Cup captain Kelly Holland is the second seed.

DeSilva will warm up for the Colonial Open in a BLTA junior tournament at Elbow Beach this weekend.

More than 80 youngsters have entered the event, which starts at 4.00 p.m.

today and runs through until the scheduled prize-giving at 5.00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

BLTA president David Lambert said the numbers entering had been so great that some matches today and tomorrow would be played at nearby Horizons.

"I'm very pleased with the size of the draw,'' said former Davis Cup player Lambert. "When I was a junior, we used to be down in the 20s for tournaments like this. It shows how successfully the BLTA junior programme is working.'' Other top youngsters in action will be Craig Bean, Jovan Whitter and Sasha Fisher.

Full schedule on page 18.

Gregg Frigerio: seeded third in next week's Colonial Open.