EIGHT British players were knocked out in the first round of the men’s Caversham International $10,000 tennis tournament at Les Ormes yesterday.

Fourth seed Joshua Goodall (world ranked 343), who only last week won a $10,000 event in Bath, was beaten by fellow Brit, Miles Kasiri 7-6, 4-6, 6-4. Kasiri, ranked 519, now faces Denmark’s Rasmus Norby, ranked 656, for a spot in the last eight.

The other Brits to progress were the No 8 seed, Alexander Slabinsky, who beat Poland’s Dawid Celt 6-4, 6-4, and qualifier Matthew Illingworth, who defeated Poland’s Wojciech Starakiewicz 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. Illingworth’s reward for the win – a second round match against Slabinsky this afternoon.

British wildcard entries, Neil Bamford and Ian Flanagan, were on the losing end of three-set matches, with Bamford going out to the top seed, Thomas Oger 2-6, 7-6, 6-0, and Flanagan losing to the sixth seed, Peter Gojowczyk 6-4, 6-7, 7-5.

On court first this morning is 17-year-old Jerzy Janowicz of Poland, currently ranked the No 6 junior in the world, who will face a good test against the No 5 seed in this tournament, Carsten Ball (ranked 359).

The main draw of the ladies’ $25,000 Caversham International event gets under way today and will feature ten British players, including Amanda Elliott and Jade Windley who came through qualifying.

Constance Sibille, ranked 593, upset the seedings as she booked her place in the main draw with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over the top seed for qualifying, Robin Stephenson (ranked 478).

Sibille will now play Elena Baltacha, the No 3 seed in Britain and in this event, while the British No 1, Katie O’Brien, ranked 124, and seeded second here faces fellow Brit Anna Smith, ranked 422.

British wildcard entry, Jocelyn Rae, takes on top seed Maret Ani, ranked 123, and No 8 seed Sarah Borwell, ranked 296, could have a tough task ahead of her as she is drawn against Croatia’s Ana Vrljic, ranked 303.

‘The standard rose again with the main draw men’s players coming into the matches,’ said tournament organiser Hugh Raymond. ‘With the ladies’ main draw taking place today it will mean a standards rise again and with the prospect of men’s and ladies’ doubles involved there will be a feast of tennis to enjoy.’

Raymond added that the British No 2 Anne Keothavong will face a minimum $1,000 fine after not being able to get to the tournament in time following her inclusion in American events.