second qualifying round yesterday.

The Swede, a former US Open semi-finalist who has won seven ATP titles, fell to Austrian Julian Knowle in straight sets.

Larsson decided to enter only last week and was obliged to play in the qualifying field of 32.

The 31-year-old Swede has played on the ATP Tour for 12 years and was using Bermuda to make something of a comeback, having not competed in a tournament since last December.

On Saturday, one break of serve in each set was sufficient for the 6-foot-4 Larsson to defeat Czech Frantisek Cermac 6-4, 6-3.

But Knowle, ranked 164 in the world, got the better of his more illustrious opponent yesterday, progressing 6-4, 6-2.

Bermuda fans will have another chance to see Larsson in action -- he will play in the doubles in a formidable-looking partnership with Norwegian Christian Ruud.

The highlight of today's action will be Bermuda Davis Cup player James Collieson taking on Cecil Mamiit of the US, not before 6.30 p.m.

Earlier, number one seed Olivier Rochus of Belgium will play up-and-coming Argentine Jose Acasuso.

The seedings have opened up the possibility of a final between siblings, as Olivier's brother Christophe, who will play Peter Wessels today, is seeded four.

Rain on Saturday delayed the start of play until 2.00 p.m. and the size of the qualifying field means that the final round of singles qualifying will not be played until this morning. Four qualifiers will earn a main draw place.

The presence in the qualifying rounds of two players who met in a Challenger final earlier this month -- Andre Sa and Mike Russell -- was a measure of the strength of the field.

Sa yesterday defeated Daneil Melo 6-1, 7-5, polishing off his fellow Brazilian by winning the last five games in a row, having trailed 2-5 in the second set.

And today Sa must play another Brazilian, Flavio Saretta, for a place in the first round proper.

Russell is also still in contention, having beaten Frenchman Cedric Kauffmann in a tense three-setter, and his fellow American Mashiska Washington.

Russell produced a patient display to see off Washington, brother of former Open winner and Wimbledon finalist MaliVai, 6-2, 6-2 yesterday.

The big-hitting Washington hit some spectacular winners, but was guilty of far too many unforced errors.

After Russell had taken the first set 6-2 and raced into a 4-0 lead in the second, Washington pulled back two games with some dazzling play but then gifted Russell a 5-2 lead with three unforced errors and a double fault.

Russell clinched victory on his third match point and will meet France's Nicolas Thomann on the centre court at 9.30 a.m. today for a place in the first round.

"Mashiska is tough to play because he moves so well,'' said Russell, who is no slouch himself.

"I came through a couple of long games at the start and I felt pretty good. I just tried to move the ball around, be patient and serve smart. I think he was pressing a lot harder than he wanted to and made a few errors.

"This is my first tournament on clay this year and at first I felt a bit unsure on the court and with the strategy.

"But coming through a tough match on Saturday really helped me settle down.'' Russell, who has now beaten Washington three times in four meetings, has enjoyed a good year so far, having qualified for the Australian Open and won a Futures tour title, as well as having reached a Challeneger final in California earlier this month. And that was all despite being sidelined for two months with tendonitis.

This is his third successive appearance in the Open and he is hoping for an improvement on past efforts. Last year he qualified but lost in the opening round to German Markus Hantschk.

Photos by Arthur Bean Early exit: Former US Open semi-finalist Magnus Larsson pictured in action during his 6-4, 6-2 shock defeat by Austria's Julian Knowle at the Bermuda Open at Coral Beach yesterday.