TOP seed Micheala Stephens defeated Katherine Dibbs in straight sets, 6-0, 6-4, to advance to the second round of the women’s singles at the 2016 Jamaica National (JN) Open Tennis Championships at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston yesterday.

“I had to dig deep and keep going and put a lot of spin on my shots to make certain I have control,” Stephens said.

After taking a 2-0 lead in the second set, Dibbs tied at 2-2 and took a 4-3 lead before Stephens broke her to make it 4-4, then held serve to take a 5-4 lead before breaking her opponent to clinch the set and the match.

Stephens will meet the winner of the Onika Shaw versus Amanda Campbell match in second-round action. This game was in progress at press time last evenig.

Meanwhile, in the men’s open singles first-round matches played yesterday, Dane Vernon eliminated Paul Kenny in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2; Cole McNair beat Steven Priestley, 4-6, 6-2, 10-4 (super tie-breaker); and Anthony Burgess cruised past Bradley Dixon 6-1, 6-0.

Mario Campbell, who is playing in this tournament for the first time, gained a walkover from Christopher Barrett and will play seventh seed Orick Angus in the men’s second round this morning.

Campbell, ranked number two in the juniors, said he is very confident that he will beat Angus and will be looking past the round-of-sixteen. “I know how he plays and will be going all out to win.”

Other men’s open matches scheduled this morning starting at 9:00 are fourth-seeded Duainne Miller vs Cole McNair; eighth seed David Goldsmith vs Bruce Hart; Daniel Gyles vs Leighton Burton, and Dwayne Lue Shing vs Roshane Henry.

Third seed Shea-Ann Kameka crushed Simone Hudson in straight sets 6-0, 6-0.

Matches scheduled today in the women’s open are Allison Jones vs Malaika Mason, and Beverley Muir vs second seed Pauline Hylton.