men's single final match against David Lambert rescheduled.

Tournament director Larry Samuels insisted yesterday that the Island's top player had nobody but himself to blame for missing the tournament final and defaulting the match on Sunday afternoon.

"There is no need to have it rescheduled, it's a clear-cut default,'' said Samuels. "My conscience is clear about having gone the full length and taken whatever steps that were required to get the final cleared.'' Way stunned the tennis fraternity when he failed to appear for Sunday's 4 p.m.

final at Tennis Stadium. The match was originally scheduled for Saturday and Way said Sunday night that he wasn't informed of the new time and didn't know the match was on.

Samuels, however, said that he was satisfied that both finalists were aware of what was happening and that no logical explanation could be given for either to miss the match. The match was put back to Sunday because Lambert was involved in a tough semi-final on Saturday against Jensen Bascome and the decision was made to play the scheduled 5 p.m. final on Sunday instead as a sporting gesture.

"David played his semi-final match at 11.30 and it turned out to be a tough three-set match and afterwards he didn't feel like he could play that final against Michael at 5 p.m.,'' said Samuels. "I said that I could understand that, and with Michael not having played that day I felt that some sportsmanship should be shown. I called and explained it all to Michael. He was somewhat put back but at the same time he said `Okay I will call David and see what can be worked out.''' Lambert confirmed that he talked with Way about the change and understood it to be sorted out. "Mr. Samuels is president of the club and tournament director and what he has said about what should happen is something that I cannot change. But Mike and I spoke and we felt that 4 p.m. would be a time that we could play and I was under the impression that was the time we were going to meet to play at the Stadium,'' said Lambert, who is president of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association.

"Now if there was a misunderstanding on Mike's part I can't confirm, but to be honest I thought 4 p.m. was the time and that's when I expected to play.'' Way could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Samuels said he later spoke to Lambert and told other parties, including sponsors, about the change. If there was any concern or confusion, Way should have called the tournament office, Samuels added.

"We are talking about somebody who apparently didn't care about whether or not he was or was not informed. All of the things he could have done if he was unsure, was open for him to do, and he didn't do anything. He had more than 24 hours to do it.'' Way, meanwhile, is one of several top men's players not entered in the Grotto Bay Open, which begins today. Eldon Daniels has been named top seed while Kelly Holland is number one on the women's side.

Seeds, schedule, Page 18