Richey Reneberg announced his renewed hunger for singles tennis with a comfortable victory over Argentinian qualifier Mariano Hood in the opening round of the Bermuda Open yesterday.

The American former Davis Cup player showed excellent touch to outclass Hood, no mean performer himself, 6-3, 6-4.

A semi-finalist in 1998, Reneberg is unseeded this year and relied on a wild card for entry after dropping out of the top 100 for the first time since 1988.

That was partly as a result of surgery he underwent on his left knee last summer which forced him to miss the US Open -- the first time in 30 consecutive Grand Slams that he had not participated.

But yesterday the 33 year-old Atlanta resident was back to close to his best, his consistent ground strokes and confidence at the net proving too much for the 330-ranked Hood.

The likeable American would be many people's choice to go all the way and although he was delighted with his form, he was modest about his chances.

"I'm a long way off that,'' he said. "I think there are a lot of guys who would be favourite ahead of me. But who knows, if I can get a bit of confidence going.'' He added that the time off with injury had increased his focus once again.

"I was thinking that last year was going to be my last in singles because I was struggling a bit. But, as I'm sure a lot of athletes would say, when you've had some time off, you get the motivation to play again -- a bit more hunger and desire.'' Meanwhile, former Bermuda Open champion Johan Van Herck breezed through to the second round and then declared: "I can win it again.'' The 1997 winner, who has never lost a match in Bermuda, destroyed Dane Thomas Larsen 6-4, 6-1 on centre court in a manner which suggests he means business again.

"I hope I can keep my streak going -- I'm six and zero here,'' said Van Herck. "I think I can win again. I've not just come here to play a few matches, I want to win the tournament.'' The 24-year-old Belgian world number 114 got off to a flying start, breaking Larsen's serve in the first game, then holding his own serve comfortably to take the first set. The Belgian then repeated the trick, breaking 200th-ranked Larsen's serve in the opening game of the second set.

"I was serving pretty well, but it was difficult to get any rhythm because he was hitting his forehands as hard as he could. When it mattered, I felt I always played well and after I broke him at the start of the second set I was always in control.'' Van Herck said the Island weather conditions meant he needed a couple of matches under his belt before his game would peak.

"I think you always progress during a tournament, but especially here, because it's so windy it takes time to get used to the different conditions.

But you have to get better through a tournament because the opposition gets better.'' OPEN RESULTS AND SCHEDULE YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Singles First round Richey Reneberg, US, d Mariano Hood, Argentina, 6-3, 6-4 Hernan Gumy, Argentina, d Paul Kilderry, Australia, 7-5, 6-3 Johan Van Herck, Belgium d Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 6-4, 6-1 Ville Liukko, Finland, d Attila Savolt, Hungary, 6-7, 6-1, 6-1 Dirk Dier, Germany, d Marcelo Filippini, Uruguay, 6-4, 6-4 Nicolas Massu, Chile, d Luis Adrian Morejon, Ecuador, 6-2, 6-3 Alejandro Hernandez, Mexico, d Maurice Ruah, Venezuela, 6-2, 6-3 Christophe Rochus, Belgium, d Jiri Vanek, Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-1 Doubles First round Lan Bale and Grant Stafford d George Bastl and Ville Luikko, 6-4, 6-3 Lucas Arnold and Mariano Hood d Nicolas Massu and Attila Savolt, 6-4, 6-3 Giovanni Lapentti and Nicolas Lapentti, Ecuador, d Karsten Braasch and Dirk Dier, Germany, 6-3, 6-4 TODAY'S SCHEDULE Centre court, 11.00 a.m.

Guillermo Canas, Argentina, v Max Mirnyi, Belarus Nicolas Lapentti, Ecuador, v Alejandro Hernandez, Mexico Lan Bale and Grant Stafford v Lucas Arnold and Mariano Hood 6.30 p.m.

Pat Rafter and Paul Kilderry, Australia, v Guillermo Canas and Diego Del Rio, Argentina Richey Reneberg, US, v Dirk Dier, Germany Court seven, 11.00 a.m.

Johan Van Herck, Belgium, v Christophe Rochus, Belgium 4.00 p.m.

David Roditi, Mexico, and Paul Rosner, S.Africa, v Irakli Labadze, Georgia, and Christophe Rochus, Belgium Still hungry: American Richey Reneberg shows the class that took him to victory over Argentinian qualifier Mariano Hood.