To anybody who has seen him play, big-serving Andy Bray?s victory over top ranked James Collieson at the Coral Beach Invitational Tennis Tournament last week would hardly have come as a surprise.

After all, this was not the first local tournament win for the 27-year-old Englishman who triumphed in three sets over Bermuda Davis Cup player Jenson Bascome in the final of the Heineken Open back in May.

In most people?s eyes, a quality tennis player is one who can adapt his game to suit any conditions and any playing surface.

So what was perhaps most impressive about Bray?s achievement was the fact that he had never played a tournament on clay before and, as a natural serve and volley player, was forced to drastically alter his game to cope with the slower surface.

?I had a hit with James Collieson previously on the clay and the first couple of times, to be honest, I could hardly stand up,? he conceded.

?Back in England, in the winter most tennis is indoors on carpet which is obviously very fast while in the summer we play on grass which is also pretty quick. So I have got used to serve and volleying most of the time.

?On the clay here I?ve had to curb that instinct and learn to stay back more. But I have to admit I?ve grown to like it and I think James probably now wishes that we had never practised on it together!?

Although it was obvious as soon as he arrived on the Island in September, 2002, that he would be a major force in local tennis, little is yet known of Bray.

Raised in the borough of Harrow, North London, he attended John Lyon School and became involved in county standard tennis from an early age.

He represented Middlesex throughout the junior ranks as well as the South-East England regional squad as a 16-year-old.

Bray went on to help his county win the Under-18 County Championship, compete in the individual National Championships and represent Middlesex at full senior level.

While at Loughborough University, arguably the strongest sporting university in the UK, he helped the first team win the prestigious British Universities title for three years in a row and was captain of the side in his final year.

Bray revealed this week that there was a time when he had even entertained the notion of turning professional, but decided against it once it was clear that he would struggle to make any impact on the world rankings.

He insists that he has never once regretted that decision and argues that he now derives far more enjoyment from the game than he would if he was gritting it out in the lower echelons of professional tennis.

?When I was around 16 the thought did cross my mind that it might be an idea to apply for a tennis scholarship at a university in the States,? he said. ?But as the standard was so strong in Middlesex, I said to myself, ?If I?m not even the best in the county at this age I?m not going to make a living out of it?. I just realised that I probably wasn?t ever going to be one of the top players in the world so I decided to keep my options open.

?Quite a few of the guys I grew up with through the ranks at Middlesex went full time,? he continued, ?And now a lot of them don?t even hit a ball or really don?t enjoy playing. I think I?ve managed to secure the best of both worlds by not devoting 100 percent of my life to it.?

Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association president David Lambert had nothing but praise for Bray who, he said, had made a ?significant contribution? to local tennis since his arrival.

?He has been a very positive influence,? Lambert said.

?Not only does his own performance set an example for our young players to aspire to, he also hit earlier in the year with our Davis Cup players and regularly trains with them in his spare time. It is such an advantage to have him because it provides our elite players with a greater level of exposure to quality tennis before they go away and represent the Island at international level.?

?Andy is a very approachable, affable, sporting person,? he continued,?and we at the BLTA are very pleased that he is on board with us.?