When Kenneth Carlsen returned to the tennis court after 20 months out through injury he said it was almost like starting over again.

Carlsen, a 29-year-old Dane and top seed at next week's XL Capital Bermuda Open, underwent two operations on his left shoulder and at one point did not pick up a tennis racquet for six months.

But his appetite for the game didn't waiver during that time - if anything, it became stronger.

"The shoulder injury came about, just like that, in an exercise in the gym, but I had had a problem with my arm for many years before that, so it was coming," said Carlsen.

Initially, he was told he would only be out of the game for two to three weeks.

"The first full month I was just doing re-hab and was hoping to come back in a couple of weeks, but, of course, after a while you realise it might take some time," he added.

"After four months the doctor and I took the decision to have the first surgery."

The prognosis then was a nine to 12-week lay-off.

"After half a year, I was still hurting," said Carlsen, who then decided to fly to New York for more treatment to his injured shoulder.

"I went during the US Open in 2000 and was told between six and nine months, and it ended up taking nine-and-a-half months."

Carlsen said the experts had all told him he would not have a problem returning the courts after he had recovered, something he was obviously encouraged by.

Consequently, he did not allow the time off to play on his mind.

"I took it very well, I think. I was very positive the whole way through," he said.

"There were only three days during that time when I was slightly negative - the day I made the decision to have the surgery, the day before I took the decision to have the second surgery, and one day seven months in when I was not able to serve.

"But every time, I found a solution."

For someone who is subject to a strict training regime, the break allowed Carlsen to live a "normal" life for a while.

"I had time to do a lot of other things - to see friends," said Carlsen.

"I didn't have to play. I could go out and party and have fun. Before, I always thought it would be catastrophic if I missed one or two weeks.

"If I didn't practise for one or two days, I thought I would lose my touch. During this period I didn't touch a racquet for six months, and three months prior to that I practised just once or twice for half an hour a week, so there was almost nine months where I didn't play at all.

"But I came back, I was hitting the ball well, so it puts everything into perspective."

Carlsen made his comeback at Queens Club in England, in 2001.

"I knew that in the beginning, playing matches would be totally different and my first two were terrible," said Carlsen.

"I stood on the court and I didn't know what to do. I didn't have a clue how to play. I could do well in practise, but I had to find my match game again."

Carlsen had eight tournaments in which to boost his ranking - a position that had taken him almost 30 tournaments to reach.

"I had to use them as good as I could," he said.

But all the time and effort began to pay off, and Carlsen believes he is now a better player for the sacrifices he made.

"It was a tough time, but I had my biggest ever win in Tokyo last year (beating Magnus Norman in the final)," he said.

"That's the biggest title I have ever won."

Carlsen attributed the win to his time out of action.

"You look at it in a different way," he explained.

"When you are on a Tour for many years, you are kind of living in a glass cage - it's tough to see another perspective.

"Now, I have to try to be careful not to get into that cage again, try to be relaxed, not take it too seriously, and just enjoy it.

"When I hit the ball after six months, during which time I didn't touch a racquet, it was like being nine-years-old again and hitting the ball for the first time - I thought it was so much fun.

"I am just trying to keep that feeling."

Carlsen hopes to have that But he knows winning won't be easy.

"There are a lot of good players here, and even if you are the number one and number two seed, that is no guarantee that you are going to win any match.

"I haven't seen all of the players who are coming, but the ones I do know of - Todd Martin, Nicolas Kiefer, Flavio Saretta - they are tough players.

"Martin and Kiefer were top ten and I am going to be seeded before them, but their potential when they play well is still top ten, so it's going to be a tough week."

For many players, this tournament will be about finding their feet on the clay, Carlsen among them.

"I don't think anyone comes here expecting to win," he said.

"I think everyone comes here looking to do their best. This is the first clay court tournament for a lot of guys, and they are trying to find their feet and their game."

Asked if that meant that the eventual winner could come from lower down the draw, Carlsen said with a laugh: "I hope not."