reasons.

The top-seeded Armenian, a finalist last year, was blasted out of the singles event by Aussie Andrew Ilie on Tuesday -- and then withdrew from the doubles yesterday. He was partnered with Mark Knowles, who won the event when teamed with Javier Frana a year ago, and the two were seeded second this year.

Sargsian suffered an ankle injury in his defeat by Ilie and informed both Knowles and officials he would have to pull out.

*** With rain expected tonight and tomorrow, Coral Beach staff will be keeping a close eye on the players locker room.

During Tuesday's downpour, Mal Washington had just completed his first-round match and had retired into the locker room for a shower when other players opened the door and began desperately flinging out their equipment.

Within minutes, those remaining inside were knee-deep in water, while the overflow had spilled out onto the verandah.

The weight of the water caused a ceiling in an apartment underneath the locker room to collapse and belongings were rapidly brought out.

*** Washington, it transpired, had actually made it out of the locker room shortly before the flood but was to be found sitting near another large expanse of water -- the Coral Beach swimming pool -- doing something very close to his heart: Talking to a bunch of children.

The Floridian, who runs his own tennis foundation for underprivileged children, was this time meeting members of Bermuda's Big Brothers and Big Sisters organisation, where older teenagers aid younger children.

"Whenever I'm playing in the States,'' he explained, "I always invite kids out from the local boys' and girls' clubs and here it was big brothers and sisters of Bermuda. It's the easest thing in the world to do.

"The tournament directors have been very gracious in providing tickets for the kids and then once they get their fill of tennis, I like to sit down and talk to them about my career and what I've done.'' Open results and schedule YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Singles Lucas Arnold d Andrei Merinov 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 Hernan Guny (5) d Grant Doyle 6-2, 6-0 Rickey Reneberg (2) d David Witt 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) Franco Squillari d Roberto Jabali 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 Francisco Costa d Christian Ruud (2) 6-4, 6-1 Doubles Dirk Dier/Michael Kohlmann d Andrew Ilie/Todd Larkham 6-2, 7-5 Andrei Cherkasov/Rodolphe Gilbert d Tom Nijssen/Greg VanEmburgh (4) 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 Marcio Charpentier/Sebastien Prieto d Mark Knowles/Sargis Sargsian (withdrew) TODAY'S SCHEDULE Centre Court, 11.00 a.m.

Marcelo Charpentier v Francisco Costa Followed by Doug Flach v Hernan Gumy Followed by Mashiska Washington v Rickey Reneberg 6.30 p.m.

MalaVai Washington v Lars Jonsson Followed by L.Jensen/M.Jensen v R.Jabali/D.Witt Court 7, 11.00 a.m.

Lucas Arnold v Rodolphe Gilbert Followed by Dirk Dier v Franco Squillari Followed by G.Doyle/Eric Taino v M.Charpentier/S.Prieto Court 5, 11.00 a.m.

Andrew Ilie v Michael Kohlmann Followed by Oliver Gross v Todd Larkham