curtain rose on the Coral Beach Club Invitiational Tennis Championships yesterday.

Although not a nationally-ranked player in Canada, Hall is most notably the the Ontario Senior Circuit Masters champion.

She also boasts other achievements including being a finalist at the Provincial Indoor Senior Championships, a semifinalist at the Provincial Outdoor Senior Championships and a quarter-finalist at the National Outdoor Senior Championships.

With her glowing track record, many expected her to be one of the players to beat at Coral Beach this week.

Perhaps someone forgot to mention that to Gelhay.

"I was a difficult match, as I had anticipated,'' said Gelhay, adding, "but I was not intimidated by reports of her past.'' Meantime, Bermudian Earl Leader was one of the busiest players on the day.

The men's top seed among 45-year-olds began with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over John Schwartz, then teamed with David Lambert in the men's doubles open to defeat Don Baker and Gary Holland 6-0, 6-0. He was then a partner with Oliver Bain when they defeated Scott Fisher and Steve Winkleman 6-0, 6-0.

Also seeing plenty of action was top-ranked woman Mary Lenore Blair.

After stopping Molly Downer 6-1, 6-3, she and partner Bruce Bernan ousted Scott and Laura Fisher 6-2, 6-3 in the century mixed doubles. Minutes later she was back on the court in the open mixed doubles with John Moore when the pair authored a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Heidi Boyle and Kevin Petty.