There are no MaliVai Washingtons in this year's XL Bermuda Open field.

Prize money has been slashed in half and it's no longer played under the United States Tennis Association umbrella.

So what does this mean for the average tennis fan when the tournament begins one month from today? Not much, organisers insist.

"With the players we have, it's going to be a great tournament competition-wise,'' said tournament manager Stuart Smith yesterday.

Last year, the Open hosted Washington, who was ranked number 18 in the world and then used his victory in the final over Marcelo Filippini as a springboard towards a breakthrough season.

This year, Washington and every other top 50 player are giving the Island a miss. In their place are nine invited players, the best being Zimbabwe doubles ace Byron Black ranked 53 and Sandon Stolle at number 56.

(Stolle and Black met on Wednesday in the first round of the Templeton Classic in Arizona, with Black winning 6-4, 5-7, 7-5).

There are, however, a few prominent names -- even if their singles rankings are in triple digits: Patrick McEnroe, the 30-year-old brother of John and once ranked as high as 28th (September, 1995).

Mats Wilander, the Swedish legend who is expected to end his brilliant 16-year career in the Open.

Grant Connell, a part-time Bermuda resident who has formed one of the world's best doubles pairings with Black.

ATP Tour regulars Vince Spadea (ranked number 63), Javier Frana (98), Brett Steven and Mariano Zabaleta.

Stolle, a 26-year-old Australian, was ranked number 19 on this week's ATP Tour money list ($100,662) and Steven was 35th.

What this translates into, Open officials say, is parity -- a wide open 32-man field vying for a $125,000 purse. Another 19 ATP players and four qualifiers will join the invitees.

"It's so close, any of these guys could win it,'' said Smith.

Factor in the clay court of Coral Beach and Tennis Club, where the week-long tournament takes place, and upsets are more than just possible. "Some of these South Americans could get pretty hot (on clay),'' said Smith.

Still, unlike the past couple of years, there is no big drawing card or huge favourite.

While it's still an ATP event, the Open is no longer part of the USTA stable.

This means it's a Challenger tournament, a scaled-down version of last year's World Series event.

The USTA, of which Coral Beach and Tennis Club, is a member, opted to replace Bermuda with a tournament in Orlando, Florida. The Bermuda Open's relatively low attendance (around 10,000 for the week when 15,000 is seen as a minimum for a World Series) was one of the major reasons, Smith said.

But Smith was quick to point out that: "It's not a demotion at all.'' It is if you happen to win the thing. First prize is $18,000; Washington picked up $43,000 last year, part of a total purse of more than $300,000.

Sponsorship, however, remains roughly the same. XL Insurance company remain the title sponsors -- and even increased their stake slightly -- with the Department of Tourism, Renaissance Reinsurance, Price Waterhouse, TennisWeek Magazine and Elbow Beach Hotel also contributing.

A Challenger event is also worth far fewer points on the ATP Tour, which makes it difficult to lure top players.

However, the Open had no trouble bringing in five former tennis greats for the Legends part of the week. Tom Gorman, Tom Gullickson, Ross Case, Roy Emerson and Fred Stolle will spend time with sponsors, play golf with fans and take part in a few exhibition matches through the week.

VINCE SPADEA -- back in Bermuda for a fourth time.