Two past champions and a former world number four will grace the green clay of Coral Beach Club in just under two weeks’ time as the XL Bermuda Open gets underway once again.

German Nicholas Kiefer, an Australian Open semi-finalist last year who reached as high as number four back in January, 2000, is a confirmed entrant while 2004 champ Luis Horna as well as the 2002 and 2003 winner Flavio Saretta will also form part of the 32-man singles draw for the event which runs from April 16-22.

The tournament has attracted many young players over the years who have gone onto bigger things — with this year looking to be no different given the involvement of 19-year-old American Sam Querrey.

The six-foot-six Californian is widely regarded as the rising star of American tennis and is renowned for his enormous serve and powerful forehand.

Querrey takes his place among a list of players whose names will be familiar to local tennis fans, including former world number 63 Kevin Kim from the US, the 28-year-old Mariano Zabaleta from Argentina who was once as high as number 21 in the world and another Argentine, Juan Pablo Brzezicki — a semi-finalist in 2005 who wooed the Coral Beach crowds with his infectious energy and enthusiasm.

Tournament spokesman Zoe Mulholland also confirmed yesterday that Island number one Andy Bray would be given a wildcard into the first round of the qualifying competition which begins on April 14.

Bray became the first local to reach the second qualifying round last year when he ousted unknown Bajan Wkwesi Williams in straight sets.

Meanwhile, having lost $50,000 worth of sponsorship when Government announced in December last year that they were withdrawing their financial support, tournament organisers have been forced to make some minor cutbacks — despite other sponsors coming on board to partially fill the void.

“It’s unfortunate but we’ve had to drop the Champions Challenge (exhibition matches involving former stars like American Jim Courier) this year because of budgetary constraints,” said Mulholland yesterday.

“Government were our second-biggest sponsor behind XL and when you lose support like that obviously there are going to have to be some adjustments.”