The lone Bermudian in the XL Capital Bermuda Open is aiming "to stay close and compete hard".

If he can do this, James Collieson believes it's possible he could do well in the tournament's qualifying round from which four players will advance to the main draw.

"Anything can happen in tennis so if I stay close and compete hard you never know," said the Island's No. 1 who will be among those in action at Coral Beach Club today as the ninth edition of the tournament gets underway.

Collieson, 25, is coming off a tough campaign in the Davis Cup Americas Zone Group Four competition, which took place in St. Vincent last week. He suffered heat exhaustion and cramps in the tropical Caribbean, but Bermuda's lone hope says he has bounced back and is ready to serve off this morning.

"My recovery has gone pretty well. I'm feeling loose and ready to go," he said, adding that unlike last year, when he was given a wild card, into the main draw he does not have any jitters this time.

Those butterflies, he noted, were somewhat to blame for his downfall at the hands of American Cecil Mamiit.

"Last year I felt quite a bit of pressure and I wasn't able to perform to the standard I wanted to. This year will definitely be easier. It's just not to be overwhelmed because sometimes you can be overwhelmed playing these guys and tennis is so mental. You don't want to be walking out there beat before you start."

As for his chance of winning any matches or even advancing to the main draw, Collieson refused to predict an outcome, though he acknowledged competition will be very tough given the number of players ranked in the world's top 250.

"As long as I can stay loose and I can move well, that's pretty much all I can ask for. I don't think too many people have turned up for qualifying so that works to my advantage but, as far as qualifying (for the main draw), I can't say. I have not played anyone recently who is as highly-ranked as these players so I don't have much to go on."

While the St. Vincent tournament did not have players as highly rated as the XL Open, the Bermudian said it had helped his preparation since he was "playing matches under pressure day after day".

Meanwhile, tournament director Alec Anderson confirmed that everything is all set for a 10 a.m. start and he urged Bermudians to support the international event.

Over the next week, 32 players - including some of the top-ranked men in the game - will vie for supremacy in the competition which, this year, has attracted personalities such as former French Open champion Michael Chang, US Davis Cup representative Taylor Dent, Australia Davis Cup player Wayne Arthurs and former XL Open winner, Andrew Ilie. This year's top seed will be Jan Vacek of the Czech Republic who ended the 2001 season ranked No. 66 - his first Top 100 finish - while other top names are Vince Spadea, Justin Gimelstob, Mardy Fish and Michael Russell.

Many of the 28 players with automatic admission into the singles competition will arrive on the Island over the weekend as qualifiers vie for the right to join them in the main draw.

There is also a double component to the XL Open but entrants for this will not be known until after today's sign-up deadline. A total of $100,000 in prize money is at stake as well as precious ATP points. The winner of the singles championship will take home $14,400 (and 80 ATP points) while the losing finalist receives $8,480 (and 56 ATP points). The pair winning the doubles will pocket $5,200 while the runners-up get $3,640.

One familiar face which will be noticeably absent this year is Australia's Pat Rafter who lives here. Anderson said he had spoken to the former world No. 1 player and the latter is giving his injured shoulder "a long rest".

By contrast, fellow Aussie Ilie is hoping for a positive start as he returns to the international circuit after a five-week, injury-induced break. The player who conquered all in the 2000 XL Open is confident about his fourth appearance on Coral Beach's clay courts.

"It depends on the luck of the draw as well as everybody's form and my form. I am playing quite well and I'm going to give it my best. It's my first tournament back. I hope I get a couple of good matches that will get my adrenaline flowing.

"It's a very tight field this year. Everybody is quite evenly matched. We are ranked between 80 and 130. It's going to be great," said the 25-year-old, who is already here.

Ilie, famed for his shirt-ripping, on-court celebrations, would obviously like to indulge in a lot of that while here. Asked if he has enough shirts, just in case things go his way, he chuckled and replied: "I hope so!"