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The two veteran players, respectively ranked number one and two here, will clash in tomorrow’s men’s singles final at 4 p.m. at the Roche Caïman tennis courts.

Knowles retained the title last year against the much-fitter Jamal Nibourette. He had to ice his injured calves, rub them with Rosiden gel to relieve the pain before placing on bandages to stay on centre court for a 2-0 (6-3, 6-2) win.

In tomorrow’s final, it is going to be a survival of the fittest encounter when the two veterans clash head on.

A new women’s singles winner will be crowned tomorrow after defending champion Marie-May Isnard did not take part in this year’s edition of the tournament.

Loser to Isnard on a 2-0 (6-0, 6-2) score in the 2007 final after not putting up any resistance and playing under a lot of pressure, Gloria Lauro will be looking to add her name to the list of winners when she takes on defending female player of the year Clivy Delpeche, winner of the Cable & Wireless and Mohan Shopping Centre tournaments last year.

Delpeche was expected to team up with Bernard Mein yesterday in the mixed doubles final against the pair of Shane Pothin and Una Charles.

The outgoing mixed doubles winners are Selwyn Knowles and Sarah Rene who won 2-0 (6-4, 6-1) against Bernard Mein and Marie-May Isnard in the 2007 final.

In this afternoon’s men’s doubles final, Bernard Mein will partner Sylvester Delpeche against the duo of Markous Kanté and Stephan Romain in a bid to claim the title.

It is worth noting that Kanté joined forces with Jamal Nibourette to win last year’s final on a 2-1 (6-7, 6-3, 7-5) score against Bernard Mein and Raj Kumar.

G. G.