Samitha Ranaweera, the former Sri Lankan Davis Cup player who introduced himself during the recent XL Bermuda Open, teamed up with Bermudian Jacob Trott to defeat Richard Boud and Graham Shirley, 6-2, 6-2, in the opening round of the BLTA Open at the WER Joell Tennis Stadium on Thursday.

Playing a controlled game of aggression and finesse, Ranaweera and Trott complemented each other as they kept their opponents off balance throughout the match.

Ranaweera, a local contract worker, received a wild card to play in the qualifying round of the XL Open. Now he?s testing the water in domestic events, seeded in the Men?s A singles to meet top ranked Andy Bray in the final.

Meanwhile, unlike a year ago when youth overpowered experience in this event, the tide turned on the opening day this time around when seasoned veterans Bobby Keill and Dan Rutstein had the measure of their younger opponents, even though it nearly took every ounce of strength they could muster, and then some, in order to achieve their victories.

Rutstein, playing teenager George Skater, battled for more than two hours before coming away with an exciting 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 triumph, while Keill took equally as long to beat Neil Towlson 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

In one other marathon match on the opening day, Carol Collard came from a set down to defeat Robin Thackery 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (4).

The remaining matches on the opening day went according to form.

MacKenzie Bean eased past Chiwun Smith 6-0, 6-0, Pablo Nunez defeated Thomas Svenson 6-3, 6-3 and young Freddy Wade didn?t allow the veterans to claim a clean sweep over the youth when he defeated Peter Havlicek 6-0, 6-4.

Eleven year-old Megan Fawcett?s first taste of ?open? tennis in the senior ranks ended in defeat when she and her father, William, were beaten in the Mixed Doubles Open 6-1, 6-2 by Elizabeth Schaefer and Chris Bardgett.