Kevin Kim was underdog in every game he played last year, but this year he returns to Coral Beach for the XL Open as the number one seed.

The 26-year-old American, who was won more than $500,000 in his career, was easily the best-performing qualifier last year, amazingly reaching the semi-finals after an epic victory over Franco Squillari, who himself is expected to be among the qualifiers this year.

Kim was ultimately beaten by Argentinian Italian Martin Vassallo Arguello in the final four and this year will be looking to make the most of his top seed status, and highest-ranked position at world number 63, to go all the way.

Last year's winner, Peruvian Luis Horna, is absent from the 2005 edition of the event but popular two-time winner Flavio Saretta returns.

The Brazilian, triumphant here in 2002 and 2003, is now down to 127 in the rankings but the 24-year-old has been as high as 44 and has picked up more than $900,000 in his seven years as a pro.

Right-hander Kim is one of five top-100 players to be taking part in the event, aside from wildcards, and is 14 places ahead of Czech Tomas Zib, who was beaten in the first round by Jan Frode Andersen of Norway last time out.

Others featuring in the top 100 are Argentinian Edgardo Massa (97) and Czech players Jiri Vanek (93), whose 2002 withdrawal gave local number one James Collieson a place in the main draw, and Michal Tabara (99), a second round loser in 2002.

A few familiar names also appear in the draw, notably the popular Ecuadorian Lapentti brothers, Nicolas and Giovanni.

Former top-ten star Nicolas, on his fifth visit to the Island, will be hoping to improve upon his best-ever finish, a semi-final in 1999, and make up for last year's defeat to Norwegian Andersen on centre court when the number one seed.

Giovanni, now ranked 34 places ahead of his older brother at 114, was knocked out in the first round last year, although did progress in the doubles with his brother and Davis Cup partner.

Another player with some notable scalps under his belt is former world number 14 Jan-Michael Gambill, now ranked 123, the American has pocketed in more than $3m in his nine years on tour and will be seeded 11 here.

Others returning this year are Frank Dancevic, the popular young Canadian, Austrian Alexander Paya, Germany's Bjorn Phau and Paul Goldstein.

As well as the 22 main draw players, there are also four wildcards yet to be announced, four spots for qualifiers and two lucky loser spots to replace main draw players who have to pull out of tournaments before first round play.