Top seeds AJ Lim and Eric Jed Olivarez launched their title bids with ruthless efficiency, setting the tone for what many expect to be a blockbuster showdown in the inaugural Gentry National Tennis Open Championship at the Colegio San Agustin courts in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan over the weekend.

Lim, the No. 1 seed and a perennial force in local tennis, dismantled Patrick Paumar with a commanding 6-0, 6-0 win. The recent PCA Open winner barely gave Paumar room to breathe as he cruised into the second round, where he is set to meet Richard Bautista, a walkover winner over Philippe Coteron.

Not to be outdone, second seed Olivarez mirrored Lim’s dominance with a similar 6-0, 6-0 drubbing of Kian Sanchez. He now faces John Christopher Sonsona, who showed grit in overcoming Carlos Austria in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, in the lower half of the 64-player draw.

The blue-ribbon event, which features a record-breaking P2 million in total prize money, including P300,000 for the men's singles champion, has drawn some of the country's finest and hungriest talents, making this edition one of the most competitive in recent memory.

While pundits are already anticipating another classic Lim-Olivarez final — a rivalry that has headlined many local Open tournaments — several rising stars and seasoned campaigners have shown they're ready to crash the party.

Among those who advanced with impressive wins were John Benedict Aguilar, who turned back Hilbert San Jose, 6-4, 6-2, and John Kendrick Bona, who dispatched Nash Agustines, 6-4, 6-1. Ronard Joven blanked Sammie Quiño, 6-1, 6-0, while Nilo Ledama overwhelmed Kean Enriquez, 6-2, 6-0.

Loucas Fernandez, Alexis Acabo, Elvin Geluz, Charles Kinaadman, Kenzo Brodeth and Eric Jay Tangub also moved forward with convincing victories, showcasing the depth and potential of the field.

In particular, Kinaadman’s 6-0, 6-0 rout of John Rey Moreno and Brodeth’s 6-1, 6-3 win over Jose Bernardo served notice of their capability to mount deep runs and possibly derail the projected Lim-Olivarez finale.

Also progressing were veterans and rising names such as Allyson Cabanilla, John Jeric Accion, Tanakorn Srirat, Miguel Iglupas, Patrick Tierro, Jeremiah Latorre, Martin Libao, Jarell Edangga, Eury Dice Gaspar, Ariel Cabaral, RJ dela Fuente, Jovanie Pilares, Craig Pantino, Klyde Lagarde, Al-Zayeed Baid, Gabriel Gurria, Evan Bacalso and Jude Ceniza.

With the first-round jitters out of the way, the second round is expected to tighten, with players sharpening their form as they eye a spot in the later stages of this prestigious tournament.