A modified scoring system, introduced for the first time at the Argus Open this week, has come into immediate effect with no less than four of the opening round matches going to the ?pro set tie-break? at the WER Joell Stadium. pair Dan Rutstein and Jonathan Kent used the system to pick up two of the first three victories of the tournament, even though it took Rutstein a bit longer than he anticipated . . . nearly three hours to complete a come-from-behind 6-7 (4), 6-3, 10-4 victory over Kirk Caza.

Under the system, no third set is played. Instead players move directly to the tie-breaker with the first player reaching 10 points, with a two point advantage, winning the match.

In the case of Rutstein he easily took the tie-break 10-4, but his co-worker Kent had to dig a little deeper to come away with an 11-9 tie-break victory over Jack Keyes after splitting the opening sets, 2-6, 6-2.

As the first day?s play continued there were to be two other matches that reached the tie-break. Ron Ganzon came from a set down to upend Randy Bean 5-7, 6-1, 12-10.

?He was just too good tonight?, said Bean. ?I had him and let him get away.?

Michael Musson, meanwhile, had to battle for more than two hours for a come-from-behind 5-7, 6-1, 10-6 victory over Dion Burgess.

In the only ladies? matches, Helena Bickley took advantage of newcomer Charmaine Thomas? erratic play to come away with a straight sets 6-4, 6-1 victory while Michelle Held beat Argentine Gisela Gamba Fernandez 6-1, 6-3.

Brothers George and Charles Skater had mixed results with George defeating Chris Bardgett 6-4, 6-4 while Charles was surprisingly beaten in straight sets by Adam Bendall 6-2, 6-1.

Play continues over the next 10 days.