Invitational Tournament for the first time, pulled off the first upset of the week, when he ousted Graham Boyle 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 during first round play yesterday.

The contest, the highlight of the first day's play, lasted for more than two hours. After taking the second set, Boyle appeared to tire, thus giving a slight edge to his Canadian opponent. Pilling took full advantage with an early break in the deciding set to take the match.

There will be no time for rejoicing because the Canadian, participating in Island competition for the first time, will face David O'Sullivan of England in today's top match due to get underway at 8.30 a.m.

O'Sullivan lost out to the Island's collegiate Davis Cupper, James Collieson, during his first trip to Bermuda last year, vowing to return for revenge this time around only to find Collieson in school in the US.

Meanwhile, third seed Mike Curry advanced into the second round with a comfortable 6-0, 6-2 victory over Mark Ray, while fourth-seeded first-timer Mike Gorton Jr. defeated Price Lowenstein 6-3, 6-2.

Tournament official Marge Way was raving about the quality field in the men's open singles and was especially upbeat over the mixed doubles entrants.

"This is the best field we've had in more than a decade,'' she beamed.

"Gill Butterfield and Mike Curry, Claire Smith is returning to partner her brother, Stuart, and they won it the last two or three times they played together.

"Then there is Kelly Holland and Mike Gorton Jr., Kathy Stubler and John Pilling, Heidi and Graham Boyle and Gretchen Devlin is paired with Mark Cordeiro. A real class field that makes this division wide open.'' Holland and Gorton, will have to start earning their stripes today when they face Wendy Gelhay and Coleridge Place. Another quality match, on paper at least, will feature top men's doubles seeds Curry and Michael Way facing the dangerous British pair of Chris Brown and O'Sullivan.

Second seed Greg Frigerio will also see action today when he plays Eldon Daniels.