He’s not come close to losing a match on the domestic scene for well over a year and has been the undisputed king of local tennis for longer than that.

So it came as no surprise on Tuesday when XL Open organisers announced that Island number one Andy Bray would once again be a given a wild card into the opening qualifying round which starts next Saturday.

Disappointingly for Bermuda tennis, however, no other local will be joining the English accountant this year in taking on the pros, with coach and former number one James Collieson still struggling with injuries and others either being overseas or a little too young to cope with the dramatic leap in standard.

Last year, Bray became the first local player to reach the second round of qualifying after a straight sets victory over little known Bajan Wkwesi Williams, before the former English county player then ran into Michael Russell — the diminutive American who reached the fourth round of the US Open last summer in New York.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette this week, Bray admitted he was fortunate to receive the draw that he did in 2006, but still hopes once again to give a good account of himself on the Har Tru clay at Coral Beach.

“I’m obviously delighted that the tournament organisers have seen fit to allow me to play — it’s always nice to test yourself against the big boys no matter what the end result,” he said.

“I was a bit lucky last year — I think Wkwesi was more nervous than I was and though it was clear he could play a bit, he was certainly no Flavio Saretta.

“I was one-love, 30-15 up against Russell as well, but that was as good as it got! Regardless though it’s a real pleasure playing at that level. Obviously it’s a completely different ball game.

“The ball just comes through — not necessarily much quicker — but with a hell of a lot more on it and consistently deeper than I’m used to, so it’s difficult to attack.

“Still, if the opportunity presents itself you’ve got to try and impose your game as well, but it’s a lot easier said than done.”

Asked whether he might stand a chance of being a little more competitive on a surface more suited to his big-serving game, Bray was unequivocal in his response.

“I don’t think so,” he said.

“I’ve come to quite like the clay to be honest and at that level the slower the surface the better for me really because it gives me more time to scramble around retrieving.

“I’m looking forward to it. I’m probably in slightly better shape this year because I’ve been training in preparation for the Small Island Games in the summer and have just played a little more tennis than I had by this time last year. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.”

[bul] The XL Foundation, meanwhile, have agreed to sponsor the tennis team which will travel to Rhodes for the Island Games in July.

Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association were only in a position to fund part of the trip and at one stage it looked as if Bermuda might not be able to send a team.

But XL stepped in to pick up the remaining cost, meaning Bray and others will have the opportunity to improve on the impressive array of medals that they won last time in Gibraltar in 2005.