OMAR RASHID from Pakistan, the Irish Open champion of two weeks, is the hot favourite to add the Heineken East of Ireland tennis title to his laurels at the Lansdowne club this week.

He opened his bid for the title with a smooth straight sets win over Noel McManus in last night's second round.

The main surprise last night was off the court. David Mullins, the promising junior who heads the seeds for next week's Dunlop Irish Under 18 open at Fitzwilliam, did not appear.

Australian Chris Barkla is a strong contender for the `East' title, as is Britain's Simon Crabtree, the number two seed. Claire Curran, recent winner of the ITF world junior ranking tournament in Dublin, won her opening match without any bother.