GROWING up opposite a tennis club, it was no surprise that Andy Bray turned into a tennis supremo.

Throw in some top club level players as parents and you have the perfect ingredients to grow a young star ? and that is what the hard-hitting Bermuda number one was.

Bray, who thinks he first started hitting balls at age six, was ranked in the top 50 at Under-16 level in the UK and went on to become the only senior player in the Middlesex county team not playing full time.

But he knew that pro tennis was never going to be for him ? other young players were far better and still never going to make it ? so he instead adjusted his goal to becoming a top amateur.

He was part of the Loughborough University team that won the British Universities championship three years in a row (one as captain) and part of the PricewaterhouseCoopers team that won the corporate national title ? the finals played on Wimbledon's clay courts.

The 28-year-old was also part of the county side that won their divisional title and got to hit on Wimbledon's number seven court on his favourite grass surface.

Bray owes a lot to both his coach Cliff Gray ? the Gray and Bray partnership won numerous doubles tournaments in Middlesex ? and to parents Geoff and Angela, who inspired him to play without pushing too hard.

And now he is in Bermuda, winning tournaments and getting incredibly excited about his Island Games selection, something that has swollen him with pride.

"It is a great honour to be representing this island in an international tournament," said Bray, winner of last week's Heineken Open over doubles partner, training partner and keen rival James Collieson in three sets.

"To get a chance to play internationally is fantastic. And it is also nice to get some recognition. The domestic tournaments, of course, are fun ? particularly in the latter stages ? but it will be great to get an opportunity to play in a competition like this.

"The other guys have the Davis Cup to look forward to and I obviously don't have that so this is my chance to compete at the higher level after proving myself domestically.

"I think we have a really good chance of doing well over there in Gibraltar, we have a strong team and Steve Bean seems like a great coach ? I will be disappointed if we don't come back with some medals.

"I can't wait to get over there and although some people may feel that I am taking someone else's place in the team, I am just going to do my best and let my racquet do the talking."

And Bray, although a little hesitant to blow his own trumpet, believes he is doing some good for Bermuda tennis.

"I don't think it hurts the sport me coming in here and giving the local guys another decent player to hit with," said Bray, who will begin his attempt to win the Island Construction Open this coming week.

"People like Gavin Manders and Jenson Bascome are obviously getting better playing away at school and when they come back they can play against me in tournaments and in practice ? that will do them no harm.

"Like in other sports, our guys have to go away to improve because in a population of about 60,000 people there are not going to be enough talented players for them to play against and raise their standard.

"But me being here, shaking things up a bit, hopefully gives them some extra incentive ? I'm sure Jenson and Gavin are going to be looking to beat me this summer and show how much they have improved."

Bray was always a doubles specialist due to the nature of the English club system but feels his singles is coming back to the fore here, as he proved in his Heineken victory over Collieson.

"I still think I am better at doubles," said Bray, who beat former UK pro Chris Bailey ? who came within a match point of beating Goran Ivanisevic at Wimbledon ? in doubles and who remains unbeaten while partnered with Collieson.

"It is a different game, simpler I think, and I enjoy it. I was not bad at it, we would often beat players in doubles who had international singles rankings.

"I didn't play singles for about four years after finishing university but here I am playing a lot.

"I think my singles is getting better but it is going to be tough to win tournaments this summer. I'm just a lad from England and playing in tournaments like the Island Construction and the Argus when the weather is hotter is really tough for me.

"I will probably be here for another couple of years and I would like to win the singles in each of the tournaments ? and obviously keep winning the doubles with James."

And there is also the chance he could win a mixed doubles crown, but only if he can persuade girlfriend Susie Mills ? the former Under 12 UK national champion ? to come out of retirement and join him on court.