It was a tough opening day for Bermuda in the Island Games in Gibraltar yesterday, with Sasha Fisher the only victor in the nine rubbers played.

Island number one Andy Bray blew a 4-1 lead in his first set in the tie against Guernsey before going down 4-6, 6-1 (8-10) under a two-set system with a tie-breaker.

James Collieson also was defeated in a tie-break, going down 2-6, 6-7 (6-10). Jenson Bascome and Gavin Manders were beaten 6-7, 4-6 in the doubles, again after holding an early lead.

The ladies team were beaten twice on opening day, losing first to Aland with Zara de Silva losing 0-6, 1-6 and Sasha Fisher and Tara Lambert losing the doubles 4-6, 4-6. Fisher won 6-1, 6-3 for the only victory of the day.

Against the hosts Gibraltar, Morgan Lightbourne was beaten 0-6, 1-6, Fisher went down 3-6, 1-6 and the doubles pairing of Caitlin Gordon and Lambert lost 2-6, 2-6.

The men, with David Thomas expected to return to the fray after his hospitalisation for shower-induced burns, take on Cayman and Alderney today with the ladies playing just the single match against Alderney.

The draw for the individual competition has also been completed with Andy Bray and James Collieson surprisingly being kept separate in the doubles.

The players, who have never been beaten as a pair, will compete with Bascome and Manders respectively in a surprise move that can only be explained away as preparation for the Davis Cup next month in which Bray is not eligible to compete.

The basketball players also swing into action today, with both men?s and women?s teams opening their campaigns against Gibraltar.