Todd Martin, taking part this week in the richest exhibition tournament in the world, has confirmed that he will participate in the XL Bermuda Open, scheduled from April 17 to 23 next year at Coral Beach and Tennis Club.

Martin, ranked number 10 on the ATP tour, is the first guarantee that the Open will feature a top 10 player, something Tournament Director Alec Anderson had long coveted for the Bermuda event.

The native of Hinsdale, Illinois is coming off his best year ever on the pro tour, a winner at Memphis in February and Queen's (London) in June. The Queen's victory was especially satisfying since the 24-year-old defeated Pete Sampras, the only player to do so in a final in 1994.

"I'm very excited,'' Anderson, an attorney, said from his office at Conyers, Dill and Pearman yesterday. "We've got a big name and he's likely to go far in the tournament.'' The announcement comes exactly a year after the inaugural tournament -- known as the XL Classic -- was in full bloom at Coral Beach. The event was moved to April after it was elevated to World Series IBM/ATP status.

The Open also becomes one of three United States Tennis Association (USTA) events, the others being the Pinehurst tournament in North Carolina in May and the US Open, a Grand Slam event at Flushing Meadow, New York in August.

At six-foot-six Martin is the tallest player to finish in the top 10, and he'll chase a significant prize of $325,000 in Bermuda. He's already won $250,000 for being a quarter-finalist at the Grand Slam Cup, taking place this week in Munich, Germany. That puts him over the million-dollar mark in earnings for the year (he won $888,342 on the tour).

On Wednesday he beat Karl Novacek, advancing to the quarter-finals against Sergei Bruguera.

"He brings a top 10 quality and he should bring an unbelievable, exciting level of tennis to Bermuda,'' said Anderson. "He plays a power game, which on clay is fun to watch.'' Anderson also confirmed that Prime Network will provide live coverage of the event, six hours of television featuring action from semi-finals and finals.

Also, tennis legend Rod Laver will play an exhibition match and will possibly be involved in corporate clinics.

Laver, 56, played exclusively on the senior tour this year, but was especially in the spotlight because 1994 marked the 25th anniversary of the last Grand Slam title achieved. No other player has been able to equal that feat although Sampras, who still regards Laver as his idol, was considered a good bet to win the Grand Slam at the outset of the year.

"Sampras has always talked about how he loves Laver's style of play, but also his demeanour on the court,'' ATP communications manager Joe Lynch said yesterday.

Anderson hopes to announce before Christmas at least two other signings for the Open. He said that it's unlikely another player from the top 10 will be involved, but since the Open is a month before the French Open some ATP stars may be at Coral Beach even if they don't play.

"I would doubt that we can expect anyone else from the top 10 but you never know, they may want some match practice, they may just actually show up,'' said Anderson.

Anderson said the line-up won't be officially complete until early March, but other players eager to participate apparently include Patrick McEnroe, Mats Wilander and Jason Stoltenberg. One player Anderson was hoping to lure, MaliVai Washington, has declined since his intention is to play in Europe early next year.

Martin, meantime, is also earmarked to participate in junior clinics while in Bermuda, a natural extension of his devotion to a grassroots programme for underprivileged youth he's deeply involved in at his home in Lansing, Michigan.

"He's one of the top three American stars now and he'll bring a certain star quality,'' said Anderson. "He'll be good with kids and stuff. He's a nice All American guy who's not filled with his own self importance.'' Martin's overall record for the year was 51-19, with another highlight coming at the Australian Open, where he lost in the final to Sampras. He was also a semi-finalist at the US Open and Wimbledon.

"He's really excited about playing and he wants to come here and get match practice before going over to Europe for the French Open,'' said Anderson. "I just hope he doesn't get injured between now and then.''