Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

IT WAS tough going for several of Jamaica's top juniors as the third day of the ITF Jamaica Junior Championships came to a close at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre yesterday.

Five more local juniors fell out of contention in the first round of the second day's main draw as their more experienced international opponents seemed to be the ones with all the answers on the stiflingly hot day.

Fourteen-year-old Brandon Burke put in a spirited performance against number four,-seeded Jason Zafiros of the United States, but eventually lost out 6-2, 4-6, 6-1.

After dropping the first, Burke dug deep in to secure a crucial break for a 3-2 lead in the second. However, the hustling American broke right back to tie the game and then held at love for a 4-3 lead.

Down 15-30 in a crucial service game, young Burke showed nerves of steel when he rallied to hold serve and then break the vocal American in the next game and then hold to level the match.

Comeback

However, in the final set, Zafiros, fresh from winning the St. Maarten Juniors Open title, came up with some fierce passing shots to counter Burke's feathery touch at the net and broke the Jamaican twice for an unassailable 5-0 lead.

In other games, William Parker of the United States beat Jamaica's Adam Vaz 6-2, 6-2 while number one seed Alex Llompart of Puerto Rico blasted past Mexico's Fernando Gonzalez 6-1, 6-1 and David Souto of Venezuela defeated Jorge Montero of Chile 6-4, 6-3. In girls' action, Venezuelan Isabella Fernandez got by Sicquena Sinclair 6-4, 7-5 and Jamaica's Shaneka Knight booked herselfa spot in the next round when she bested compatriot Monique Hanson 6-1, 6-4 but Shantal Blackwood fell 6-2, 6-4 to Denise Atzinger of Zimbabwe. Barbados' Kristen Lopez pounded Canada's Sara Lazarevic 6-1, 6-0.

In doubles action, Blackwood and Simone Brown defeated Hanson and Sinclair 6-2, 6-4, while Atzinger teamed with Mexico's Thais Romero to turn back Calissia Reid and Kacia Riley 6-1, 6-2.