For the most part, the first day of the 2000 USA&160;Adult League State Mixed Doubles Championship Tournament had few problems.

&uot;The first day has gone smoothly, except for the rain,&uot; said tournament director Noreen Pyron. &uot;It’s been warm, but not too hot. There have not been any injuries.&uot;

Natchez is hosting the three-day event on several area tennis courts.

&uot;It takes all the volunteers and sponsors to make the tournament go as smoothly as it does,&uot; Pyron said.

Natchez’s only local team in the tournament is playing in the 6.5 level and is captained by Brenda Johnson.

&uot;So far we’ve had a great day,&uot; Johnson said. &uot;We won our first match 2-1 over a team from the (Gulf) Coast. It’s great competition here.

&uot;When you’re playing here, you’re playing all winners.&uot;

Bobby Hartness and Debra Bassi teamed up to defeat a team from the Delta in the evening.

&uot;This morning we started off a little rough and then we regrouped and won the match,&uot; Hartness said. &uot;If one (team) loses, the other two come through.&uot;

Two players from out-of-town who are not only enjoying the competitive tennis but the hospitality of Natchez are Joyce Mabry, who is from Liberty and is on a team from McComb, and Larry Solomon, who is captain of a team from Belzona.

&uot;It’s gone extremely well,&uot; Mabry said. &uot;We had a short rain delay, but everything is back on schedule. It’s a good tournament.&uot;

&uot;I love it,&uot; Mabry said of Natchez. &uot;The people are very friendly. It reminds me of New Orleans in terms of the architecture.&uot;

&uot;We’re 2-0. We beat two teams from Jackson,&uot; Solomon said. &uot;Tomorrow we’re playing another Jackson team.&uot;

When asked what he thought about Natchez, Solomon said, &uot;The people here are nice. This (Duncan Park) is a nice facility.&uot;