JENSON Bascome has his heart set on playing against some of the stars of the ATP Tour in the next XL Capital Bermuda Open.

The 22-year-old, who has just graduated with a BA in psychology from Philadelphia's Temple University, said that to get the opportunity to play in Bermuda's annual ATP Challenger event would be the realisation of an ambition.

Bascome's Davis Cup team-mate James Collieson has played in the first round proper of the April tournament at Coral Beach for the past two years.

Last year Collieson was given a wildcard entry straight into the main draw and this year he was given a place in the qualifying round and won through to the first round by virtue of his opponent withdrawing.

Bascome has been away studying and so a place in the XL has always been impractical for him in the past.

But he said this week he intended to stay in Bermuda for the next year or so, with the aim of later returning to Temple to take a doctorate in physiotherapy.

As far as his tennis is concerned, his stay at home will give him the chance to play in local tournaments and stake his claim to be a dominant number one player, as well as to have his first shot at the XL, if tournament organisers decide to grant him an opportunity.

When asked what tennis ambitions he had for the coming year, Bascome said: "I want to continue to train and improve on my game and I guess I would really like to get an opportunity to play in the XL. Last year might have been a good time for me to play with some qualifiers pulling out, but I was away.

"Hopefully I can get my game up to par this year and if the opportunity to play in the XL presented itself I would jump at the chance."

Bascome's triumph in the Colonial Open two weeks ago moved the Bermuda Davis Cup player up to number two in the national men's singles rankings.

His 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Chile's Ben Ureta in the final at Pomander Gate in his first major domestic tournament of the year means he is closing in on current number one John Johnston.

Johnston reached the semi-finals of the Colonial, which leaves him still top of the rankings with 1,844 points, while Bascome, by winning his first tournament of the year, moves up from eighth to second with 1,550 points.

The other semi-finalist, Eugene Simmons, moves up from fourth to third, while the Heineken Open champion Michael Way drops two places to four.

The top ten is dominated by veterans but teenager Romar Douglas, who reached the quarter-finals at Pomander Gate, is a welcome addition. He moved up from 13th to tenth.

Bascome will play in next month's Argus Open and another victory would put him on top of the pile.

"It would nice to be recognised as the number one, but there are still a lot of players who are not playing much, like James Collieson and Ricky Mallory," said Bascome.

Of his victory over Chilean Ureta, a reversal of the result in last year's Colonial Open final, Bascome said: "It was very rewarding to avenge last year's loss.

"This year I knew he (Ureta) would be back, so I came in a little bit more focused, because I knew what I would be up against."

Bascome will spend the year between studies, giving tennis lessons, mainly at Elbow Beach and he also aims to get some work experience with local physiotherapists.

As well as Bascome, the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association rankings show good news for another overseas-based student returning home.

Zarah DeSilva, who triumphed over Ashley Brooks in the women's singles final, rocketed up the rankings from 28th to third, courtesy of her straight-sets win in the final.

Fellow teenager Brooks moved up from eighth to sixth, while Fed Cup player Danielle Paynter, who fell to DeSilva in the semi-finals went up from fourth to ninth.

Apart from those three, the women's top ten, just like the men's, is dominated by veterans.

Donna Bradshaw is still top of the rankings, but second-ranked Colonial semi-finalist Deborah Cheng continues to close in on her.

Both Bascome and DeSilva also shot up the doubles rankings after title-winning exploits at the Colonial.

Bascome shot up from 11th to fourth in the doubles chart after his triumph with partner Ricky Mallory, who regained his status as the island's number one doubles player.

DeSilva and Brooks' victory in the women's doubles earned them joined fifth place in the doubles rankings.