Defending champ Velma Matinengo of Puerto Rico. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

TORTOLA- Defending champ and top seeded Velma Matiengo of Puerto Rico and her counterpart Pablo Juares, rolled to straight set Friday evening victories in their open rounds of play at the Tortola Sports Club, in the BVI Open Tennis Tournament that wraps up on Sunday. Rains interrupted several matches last night.

Matiengo had a straight set 6-0, 6-2 triumph over Halin Kalan, to move on to the next round, after Kalan's match was set up with her with a walk over of Annette Collins.

“I started serving very good today and I was very confident,” Matiengo said. “She played very good, but I've been hitting the ball very well. I want to win again. I'm going to take it match by match and take it easy. I've been training a lot more and I'm playing better than last year. I'm hitting the ball harder, my serve is better, so hopefully, I'll do better this year.”

Third seeded Erica Adams of Atlanta, who won the tournament in 2005, moved on to the next round with a 6-0, 6-0, win over Luann Hodge.
Second seeded Silma Phillps of Grenada who was the women's runners up last year, is expected to meet the Eda Penn/Alexia Allen match that was rain affected.

Juares opened his Men's A singles match with a straight set 6-2, 6-2 victory over the BVI's Greg Boyd.

On Thursday night, Barbados' Michael Date overpowered the BVI's Percy Rhoden in straight sets, 6-0 and 6-0. In Men's B singles, Peter Pinnock was a 6-2 and 6-2 winner over Terrance Gumbs. Chris Smith stopped Keith Thomas also in straight sets, 6-1 and 6-4.

BVI Lawn Tennis Association president and tournament coordinator Dion Anselm teamed with Tim Robson to take their Men's Doubles match, 6-1 and 3-0 retired.

“Things are shaping up but we have to catch up on some matches that were rain affected on Thursday night,” he said. “We are hoping to catch up with the draw by the end of the night. But, on Saturday, fans can look forward to great matches because all the players from St. Croix, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico and Barbados are here. I'm expecting great competition.”

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