Mallory pulled off an unprecedented clean sweep of domestic singles titles last year, but after missing the first two singles tournaments of 2000 his top spot in the rankings is now under threat.

And Mallory could be dethroned as early as next week by second-ranked Jenson Bascome, if he fails to emulate the results of his young Davis Cup team-mate in the Colonial Open at Pomander Gate.

In the latest rankings released on Monday by Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association, Mallory has 2,000 points, just 20 ahead of his regular doubles partner Bascome, who won the Port Royal Open this month.

Points are awarded on a rolling 12-month basis, and how many points a tournament offers depends on the strength of the field.

Mallory, 34, opted to play only doubles at Port Royal, having been absent from April's first major tournament of the year, the Heineken Open, because of commitments with his soccer club, PHC.

But he will play singles at the Colonial Open, which starts on Sunday. Alan Kennedy, of Pomander Gate Tennis Club, confirmed yesterday that Mallory had entered the men's A singles draw.

Bascome, 20, a student of Temple University, Philadelphia, is home on holiday and has also entered the Colonial. A repeat of his Port Royal triumph would almost certainly make him number one.

Third in the rankings is 19-year-old Jevon Roberts, who defeated fellow teenager Craig Bean, now ranked sixth, to win the men's B title at Port Royal.

Heineken Open champion Eldon Daniels is ranked four and the fellow veteran he beat in the final at the Tennis Stadium, Eugene Simmons, is at five.

Mallory and Bascome are joint number one men's doubles players.

Jill Finnigan is the Island's number one ranked woman player in both singles and doubles, but she has two of Bermuda's Federation Cup teenagers breathing down her neck.

Finnigan's victory at the Port Royal Open gave her 1,750 points, just 50 ahead of 16-year-old Zarah DeSilva, whose Heineken Open triumph gave her a first major domestic title. And 20 points further back in third spot is 19-year-old Danielle Paynter, who studies in Canada.

In fourth and fifth places are Laverne Stowe and Shonette Wilson, losing finalists in the Heineken and Port Royal tournaments respectively.

The BLTA's rankings administrator John Moore said big improvements had been made to the rankings system this year. "In the past, players had to play a minimum number of tournaments to be in the rankings, but now they embrace all active players,'' said Moore.

"The `B' rankings have been taken away, because we felt there were players playing for a high rank at `B' level instead of playing in `A' tournaments.

"We have tightened up on that and now the top 15 percent of players are not allowed to play in the `B' draw.'' Rankings -- see Scoreboard Ricky Mallory: back in action at this weekend's Colonial Open.