when Michael Way and Donald Evans lost their opening round qualifying matches under mostly sunny skies at Coral Beach and Tennis Club.

In what can only be described as a scheduling blunder both local players took to the courts at 9.00 a.m. -- Way on centre court and Evans on nearby court four -- with a threadbare crowd in attendance. The people who were there expressed displeasure over what could have been two of the showcase qualifying matches, but were instead lumped together with seemingly little thought of the home crowd.

Shortly after 10.00 a.m. both players were gone from qualifying with Way losing to Austrian Alex Antonitsch 6-1, 6-4 and Evans also dropping consecutive sets in a 6-2, 6-2 loss to Brazilian Roberto Jabali.

Antonitsch, 29, with an impressive singles triumph against Spain's Carlos Costa followed by a doubles triumph over Spain with partner Thomas Muster in Davis Cup action earlier this year, looked virtually unstoppable in the first set as Way, stewing in frustration, struggled with early gusts of panic.

Antonitsch, ranked 224 in the world but as high as 64 in 1990, barely worked up a sweat, showing the same form which saw him give Stefan Edberg trouble before eventually losing to the Swede in Davis Cup action a month ago.

Bermuda's number one player, wearing the now-familiar black brace on his left knee, roared back in the second set and Antonitsch suddenly looked like he was the one on the ropes. The set was an entertaining one with Way holding a 2-1 advantage at one point before a classic see-saw battle emerged.

With Antonitsch ahead 5-4 Way allowed the ninth game -- and match -- to slip away.

"I was happy with the way I played,'' said Way, 29, afterwards. "I thought I could have played even better, but he was always forcing me. Then I missed those two easy forehands in that 5-4 game. It could have gone to 5-5 and then who knows?'' Way and Evans looked much stronger than their first round exits in the XL Classic qualifiers 16 months ago, with their confidences clearly boosted by Davis Cup competition last month.

"I had some chances,'' said Way. "I did get better at the end. I realised after a few games that I could hang with him.'' Antonitsch capped his win with a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 second round victory later in the day against Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic.

"I took the match more serious in the beginning because I didn't know him,'' said Antonitsch of Way. "I thought he played very well. He took a lot of chances and I didn't concentrate as much as I did in the first set.

"What this match proved again is that you can't toy around with anyone anymore.'' Jaboli, ranked 205 in the world, proved to be a high-quality opponent for Evans, with the match watched by only a few people on a court where there is virtually no seating.

The slow pace of the clay court was once again Evans' undoing as he was overpowered by the 24-year-old right-hander with a solid backcourt game. "He kept the ball very deep as opposed to a lot of my shots which were falling short,'' said Evans. "I served pretty decent, but I didn't get the high percentage of first balls that I need in order to get into my game.'' Jabali was eventually ousted in the second round by Wade McGuire of the US.

One of Saturday's riveting matches featured Canadian doubles ace Grant Connell, defeating Germany's Milan Palme 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in a sometimes cautious, often spellbinding three-set opening rounder.

It could be argued that Connell, with a home in Southampton, was left to carry Bermuda's qualifying hopes. McGuire defeated Connell 6-3, 6-2 yesterday morning to earn one of the four singles qualifying berths.