Two-time defending champion Hernan Gumy has opted not to return to the Bermuda XL Capital Open this year to go for a hat-trick of titles at Coral Beach.

But the field for the annual ATP Challenger tournament will contain more players from from the world's top 100 than last year, including world number one doubles player Leander Paes and two-time US Open champion Patrick Rafter.

"Hernan (Gumy) has decided to play in a tournament in Barcelona instead,'' said tournament director Alec Anderson. "It's a $1 million tournament and we cannot compete with that.'' Popular American veteran Richey Reneb erg, however, will be back in a bid to claim a hat-trick of doubles titles.

Last year, the 34-year-old partnered Doug Flach to victory. This time he will pair up with his old friend Jim Grabb. Reneberg and Grabb were hugely successful during the early '90s and their success propelled Reneberg to number one-ranked doubles player in the world by 1993.

Perhaps their most famous match as a team ended in defeat, in the Wimbledon doubles final of 1992, when they went down to John McEnroe and Michael Stich 19-17 in the fifth set.

But the pair will start as hot favourites to take the honours at Coral Beach, particularly after winning the Scottsdale ATP tournament two months ago.

Losing doubles finalists last year were Rafter and fellow Aussie Paul Kilderry, who proved a huge hit with the fans. The pair will team up again, despite Rafter's recent admission that he is "bored'' with life on the Tour and thinking of retiring.

Paes, of India, is the current top doubles player in the world, but has not been so successful in singles, in which he is now 93 in the ATP Champions Race.

Last year, he and compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi reached the final of all four Grand Slam doubles events, winning both Wimbledon and the French Open. The 26-year-old has career earnings of more than $2.3 million.

Among the other well known names in this year's field are two Australians who have played at Coral Beach before -- Jason Stoltenberg and Andrew Ilie.

Stoltenberg, 30, a former Australia Davis Cup player, has been in the professional ranks for 13 years, currently ranks 59 in the ATP Race and once reached the Wimbledon semi-finals.

Ilie, 23, a colourful character who was born in Romania but now lives in Melbourne, has shown his mettle this year with victories over Michael Chang and Albert Costa. Ilie is number 68 in the ATP race.

Another who could be serious contender for the title is Italian Gianluca Pozzi, who at 34 -- four months older than Reneberg -- is the Tour's oldest player.

Pozzi reached the final of the Wroclaw ATP Challenger event in Poland in February where he lost to Czech Martin Damm, having beaten Zimbabwe's talented Wayne Black on the way.

But his most noteable performance this year came in last month's Ericsson Open in Miami, where Pozzi took out Jonas Bjorkman, Stefan Koubek and Jiri Novak before falling to eventual finalist Gustavo Kuerten in a second-set tiebreaker in the round of 16.

Nicolas Massu, a Chilean who reached the last four at the Open last year, will be back. He was on court when the last week's infamous Davis Cup tie between Chile and Argentina in Santiago was abandoned when Chilean fans started pelting fruit and coins onto the court because Massu was losing.

Dutchman Jan Siemerink, a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, is another well-know entrant.

Not so well known, but tipped as a rising star is American James Blake, one of the few black players on the Tour. Aged 20 and just out of Harvard, the youngster will be playing singles as well as doubles with his brother Thomas.

The entertaining Jensen brothers, Luke and Murphy, will liven up the doubles tournament. Luke is now also well known as a television commentator with ESPN.

Qualifying matches start on Saturday, April 22 and the first round proper will open on Monday, April 24, with finals day on April 30. Those interested in buying tickets can contact the tournament office on 236-5987.

Richey Reneberg: The popular American will be aiming for his third straight doubles title at this month's XL Capital Bermuda Open.