After a sensational 2006 season in which he sealed the domestic Grand Slam without ever being stretched, the big-serving Andy Bray could be forgiven if he was finding motivation a little hard to come by.

With main rival James Collieson still not fully recovered from injury after missing most of the action last year, the Englishman began his campaign at the inaugural Elbow Beach Open this week as the overwhelming favourite once again.

In fairness, the likes of Jacob Trott and veteran Michael Way are, on their day, capable of extending the XL accountant — though neither have yet mounted a credible challenge to Bray’s all-conquering play.

Modest as ever though, Bray insisted yesterday he would be taking nothing for granted with a long season stretching out before him, and is greatly looking forward to a potential involvement in both the XL Open at Coral Beach and the Small Island Games on the Greek Island of Rhodes this July.

The 30-year-old became the first ‘local’ to make it through the first found of XL qualifying last year when he thrashed Bajan newcomer Wkwesi Williams in straight sets before being halted one victory short of the main draw by the diminutive American Michael Russell. And in Gibraltar at the 2005 Island Games, he clinched three medals — two golds and a silver — to cap a very successful campaign.

“I enjoyed a lot of success last year, but that doesn’t mean I’ve been tempted to take my foot off the pedal. At the end of the day I just love playing tennis and competing at the highest level I can — that’s all the motivation I need,” he said.

“Obviously I’d love to have the same kind of year this time around, but that won’t happen if I think that I can just show up to tournaments and people are just going to roll over.

“There are plenty of good players around who are capable of beating me if I’m not on top of my game, so there’s no question of resting on my laurels. I’m still relatively young and there’s plenty more that I want to achieve in the sport.”

Bray would be the first to admit that he was fortunate last year with his XL qualifying draw — getting a first round player in Williams who many felt would struggle to make it through to the final of one of the Island’s main amateur tournaments.

He knows therefore, that if Lady Luck is not kind to him again, his chances of equalling or even improving on last year’s performance on the green clay are very slim indeed.

It is in the Island Games, however, where his realistic ambitions lie, and having been knocked out of the singles competition last time before the semi-final stage, medalling in that competition is very much at the top of his agenda.

“I was involved in so many matches in Gibraltar and I think my performance in the singles was a product of being a bit worn out after all the doubles,” Bray said of his 6-2, 4-6, (9-11) defeat to a decent Guernsey player.

“There are some good players kicking around at the Island Games. The Nordic Islands usually pick up one or two Swedish players who are quite good, while both Jersey and Guernsey have got some talented players who play most if not all of their tennis on the mainland.

“But I still feel that if I’m playing my best tennis, I’ve got a good chance of medalling, and hopefully we can all bring as many medals back as we possibly can for the Bermuda team.

“So all in all there’s a lot to look forward to. I’ve been spending quite a bit of time in the gym recently. The old winter gut is gradually disappearing and I’m feeling ready for what’s coming up.”