SEVERAL Jamaicans advanced to the second round of the sixth staging of the Touch Tuina Blue Mountain Caribbean Junior Tennis Championships, which got under way at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston yesterday.

Play continues today at 9:00 am, with All-Jamaica Girls’ Under-18 and Under-16 singles champion Michaela Stephens scheduled to be in action this afternoon against compatriot Moesha Fox at 2 o’clock.

Jamaica’s Damani Cain, who won the All-Jamaica Boys’ Under-18 and Under-16 singles title on Sunday, was among several local players advancing to the next round.

Cain, seeded third, breezed past Alex Claybourn of the Cayman Islands in straight sets 6-1, 6-1. Also advancing in the Boys’ 16 and under singles were unseeded Mario Campbell, who defeated Russell Foreman of Jamaica in straight sets 6-1, 6-3; Ryan Cox of Jamaica, who easily disposed of his compatriot Nathan Copper 6-0, 6-0; Romeo Edwards who who beat Jake Booker of the Cayman Islands 6-3, 6-3; and Carlos Wilson of Jamaica who beat Cole McNair of Jamaica 6-1, 6-3.

Meanwhile, fourth-seeded Jenna Harrison defeated Aanchal Khemlani of Jamaica 6-0, 6-1; Kobi Wilcott of Jamaica gained a walkover from Mia Sampson, also of Jamaica; Valaine Clarke of the United States crushed Laurenne Mottley of Barbados 6-0, 6-0; and third seed Kailey Chin of Jamaica beat her compatriot Peta-Gaye Graham 6-0, 6-2.

Kaiel Casserly of Jamaica beat Sebastian Bjuro of the Cayman Islands 6-1, 6-4 in Boys’ 14 and under singles; and Abigail Peru of Jamaica beat Kez Marshall of Barbados 6-1, 6-0 in the Girls’ Under-14.

— Gerald Reid