Andy Bray, the Island's top-ranked player, opened the defence of his CBC Invitational Tennis crown at the Coral Beach and Tennis Club with a straight sets 6-1, 6-2 victory over Tennis Pro Eugene Simmons, while second seeded Marc Jacobson was having an easier time of things on the lower level where he defeated Chase Toogood 6-0, 6-1.

Samitha Ranaweera came away with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over David Jenkins and James Collieson made his comeback to the local tennis scene with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over John Johnston. Collieson then teamed with Jacobson to ease past youngsters Alex Cooper and Matteo Frazzoni, both pupils of Collieson, 6-0, 6-2.

Collieson said it "felt kind of weird" to play against his students in a tournament. "Even though I was pleased when they made good shots," he added.

Teenager Frazzoni said: "it was just another guy on the other side of the net when the ball came to us."

Meanwhile American newcomer Averell Fish, seeded number one in the Men's 55, had to prove his mettle before getting past Bob Stewart 6-4, 6-4. The Palm Beach, Florida resident later teamed with fellow American Charlotte Thompson of Conyers, Georgia to oust Jean McGlynn and Michael Levon 6-2, 6-2 in the Mixed Doubles Open. The visitors are seeded at the top of the draw in the Mixed Doubles Open and will have much tougher opponents in the next round when they take on Jackie Lambert and Alex Cooper, 6-2, 6-3 conquerors of Cayla Cross and F. Scotto Quaquero in yesterday's opening round.

The Lamberts could find themselves with a combination of silverware from this tournament because in addition to Jackie moving along, she will later team with her sister Tara in the Ladies Doubles Open while Tara is playing with their father, David, in the Mixed Doubles Open.

The father/daughter proved to be too much for C. McHarg and D. Benevides in the opening round yesterday where they came away with a 6-0, 6-2 victory.

Roger Marshall and Samitha Ranaweera, just another team in the talent-laden Men's Doubles Open division, showed their mettle when they beat Eugene Simmons and Terry Smith 6-2, 6-2.

In the only Century Mixed match played on the day Gill Butterfield and Brian Way came away with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Elizabeth Braswell and Bruce Berry. It was Butterfield's second victory of the day having earlier beaten Braswell 6-0, 6-0 in the Ladies Senior Open, while Oliver Bain and Brian Birch defeated Dick Mount and Bruce Berry 6-2, 6-2 in the day's only Men's Doubles Senior event.

Play continues all week.