"Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger," says Andrew Ilie philosophically as he reflects on what became of 2002.

The 26-year-old Romania-born Australian, who has returned to the scene of his 2000 XL Capital Bermuda Open triumph, is the first to admit he didn't have the best of times after leaving the Island following last year's tournament.

Ilie was beaten in the second round at Coral Beach by the eventual winner Flavio Saretta of Brazil in three sets (6-2, 5-7, 6-0) before heading off to Europe.

That is when his troubles began. A stress fracture in his left foot was the root of the problem, but there were other issues as well and all told he took the best part of six months off.

"After I played the French (Open) I couldn't really walk and had to take a few weeks off. They didn't know what was wrong. I played for another couple of weeks, then I stopped," he said as he took a break from practising yesterday.

""It was very, very difficult. You know what they say - it doesn't rain, it pours.

"A few other things got me down; a few personal problems. It was just a bad time but I came out of it and whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

The experience came as somewhat of a surprise to Ilie he admits.

"I have had quite a difficult life but I had four good years - `98, `99, 2000 and 2001 - where I did quite well and I guess I forgot that there are bad times out there," he said adding that the lows had given him the opportunity for some reflection. "You get to enjoy your achievements more than before. There's a fine line between pleasure and pain."

Asked if he had completed his comeback, Ilie, who has so far this year played at the Australian Open and at Challengers in Dallas, Texas, Joplin, Missouri and Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam and two Futures events in the USA, quipped: "I am always coming back.

"I have been playing some good tennis, I am moving up and the next thing now is to get a good few results at bigger tournaments, the bigger Challengers and Tour events and slowly but surely I'll get back up there. It's just a matter of time."

So what part does Bermuda play in his rehabilitation?

"All I am looking for this week is two or three good matches and I'll take it from there," he said.

"Three years ago I took it match by match and was really happy I came here - that's what I always do, even when I play my best tennis. I always want to win just a few matches.

"The secret is that if you win two matches you are on a roll, then things come easier, you play better and you get more confidence.

"If I win a couple of matches I am obviously playing good and I have a great chance to win the tournament. If I win two matches in a row I am in tournament winning form."

The others heading to the Coral Beach have been warned.