by the addition of another.

Two weeks before the start of the $100,000 event at Coral Beach, tournament director Alec Anderson confirmed yesterday that young American Justin Gimelstob has pulled out.

Gimelstob, once pegged as the next US star, has apparently opted to take part in a tournament in Hong Kong instead. But a bad back, which has caused him to bow out of this week's Lipton Championships in Florida, may have also entered into the decision.

Only 21, Gimelstob's three-year pro career has stalled and he is currently ranked 120 on the ATP Tour.

That leaves two other Americans, Richey Reneberg and MaliVai Washington, both of whom confirmed their appearance last month, as the biggest names in the 32-man field, beginning on April 3.

Washington won here in 1996 but has struggled since. Reneberg, though, "has been playing some really good tennis,'' said Anderson, citing his semi-final doubles appearance at the Super Nine tournament in Indian Wells, when he teamed with Todd Martin.

Martin, incidentally, is one of several other players Anderson is trying to lure to Bermuda.

For now, though, he'll have to be content with the addition this week of Sargis Sargsian, the 25-year-old Armenian, via Arizona State University, who lost 6-1, 4-6, 6-0 in the final last year to Belgium's Johan Van Herck. Van Herck is not returning.

Sargsian, ranked in the top 100 in the ATP, indicated after last year's tournament he would likely return; he became a fan favourite with his athleticism and shot-making.

With a series of Davis Cup ties coming up next week, getting confirmations has been difficult. But Anderson said yesterday he would be watching the US/Russia tie closely and is hoping to land players from both nations.

He said he expected "one or two'' top 50 players to ultimately take part.

They will be competing for a purse that is $25,000 less than a year ago and one third of what it was two years ago, when the tournament was a World Series event.

There is also not yet a television deal, although Anderson said he expected the event to be televised by ESPN or Fox Sports.

SMASH HIT -- American Richey Reneberg will headline the Bermuda XL Open when it returns to Coral Beach. Another American hopeful, Justin Gimelstob, this week pulled out of the $100,00 tournament.