The action will be riveting at the courts on Victoria Avenue on Friday in Port-of-Spain as competitors seek to inch closer to capturing the respective singles titles up for grabs.
On Friday, Dexter Mahase, Kino Francis, Luca Shamsi and Ronald Robinson all booked their spot to secure extended play in today's round of 16 singles match-ups. Mahase who started his battle in march of 2020 and held a 6-2 first set lead over Saqiv Williams, finished off the job with a swift 6-1 final inside 30 minutes.
He will take on the 3rd seed Keshan Moonasar on Court 3 from 9 am.
Kino Francis who also had a continuation of his 2020 match with Beckham Sylvester resumed from deuce in the first set, to claim his 6-0, 6-2 win. Francis who won the Chetwyn singles title recently and was defeated in the final of the Duke's Tennis Academy Tournament said he prepared well and is ready to go all the way. He will have to be at his best as he will come up against 4th seed Richard Chung who already has the the tournament's Men's Doubles title under his belt.
Meanwhile, 15-year-old Luca Shamsi was unforgiving in his 6-0, 6-0 triumph over Zachery Byng, to progress to take on, the 43-year-old player coach Dunstan Denoon out of Tobago.
Shamsi who lost in the Boy's Under-18 final of the RBC Junior Tennis Tournament in December, said he is under no pressure taking on the 7th seed who 27 years his senior. He is going out to play his game, gain the experience and have fun. Ronald Robinson and Adisa Idemudia was the last match to be completed on the first day back out as the two battled till the end.
Robinson prevailed 7-5, 6-3 to assume his place today to take on the 5th seed Ethan Wong.
The players that will feature in Saturday's programme are the top seed Nabeel Mohammed, who will square off with Liu Chin and second seed Akiel Duke has a date with Joshua Boyce.
The two outstanding matches which will get going around 10:30 am brings together Tobago's Vaughn Wilson who's the 6th seed battling Tim Pasea and the 8th seed Sebastian Sylvester clash with Nathan Valdez.
The women will have their time to shine in the afternoon rubber matches from 1 pm when the quarterfinals are expected to serve off.
Top seed Carlista Mohammed will match skills with Zara Ghura and third seed Cameron Wong will tangle with Jordane Dookie.
Also, second seed Osenyonye Nwokolo, who is fresh off her RBC Junior Tennis Tournament Under-18 Girl's Singles success, will face Maria Honore as they chase a semi-final spot, while fourth seed Aalisha Alexis and Ella Carrington will face off in the other battle.