Olympic Pre-qualifying and Qualifying Event in Paraguay, each losing their opening round matches.

However, they did not go without a fight as Evans stretched his opponent to three sets before succumbing and Way was similarly impressive in defeat participating in an exciting match which went down to the wire.

Evans had a rocky first set against Roger Smith of the Bahamas but came back strongly to win the second but faltered again in the third and deciding set to lose by a score of 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. Smith, a professional, regularly competes on the ATP Tour just proved to tall an order for Evans to digest.

Unlike Evans, Way came out smoking against Aruba's Clifton Yuang with the first set having to be decided by a tie-break with Way on the losing end of the set 7-6. The second set also went down to the wire before Yuang emerged victorious courtesy of a late service break. The final score 7-6, 7-5.

After these twin losses the pair had one final chance to book a place in Barcelona if they were able to win their two doubles matches the first of which was scheduled for yesterday afternoon. There was no word at press time as to how they fared in that match against a doubles tandem from Aruba, but success there would mean a matchup against Canada with another favourable result qualifying them for the show in Spain.

Originally Michael Way, not older brother Billy, had been scheduled to compete with Evans in the singles but due to a four day delay in the start of the tournament he was forced to abandon his Olympic quest and return home to Atlanta.

The All Bermuda Tennis Club International Open gets underway next Wednesday.

The deadline for entry is set for Monday at 4 p.m. with the draw scheduled to take place immediately afterwards.

Reigning singles champions are Jerome Bradshaw and Donna Bradshaw, with Bradshaw and Steve Bean last year men's doubles winners and Sheila Gomez and Debbie Darrell the women's doubles title-holders.

Steve Bean and Sheila Gomez took the mixed doubles crown last year, when Jerome Bradshaw and Sheila Gomez were voted the tournament's most outstanding players.

One of the tournament sponsors -- Sports R Us -- will be staging a demonstration of tennis equipment on both Saturdays of the tournament from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The tournament, which is also sponsored by Metro Mineral Water, Miles Market, Barritts, Crow Lane Bakery, The Upstairs Golf & Tennis Shop, MacPherson Paints and the Pro Shop, plays to a finish on May 17.

BILLY WAY -- Defeated in the first round of the Olympic Qualifying tournament in Paraguay. Teammate Donald Evans suffered a similar fate in the single competition.