Taylor Dent has set his sights on winning the XL Capital Bermuda Open in a bid to go for glory on a far bigger stage.

Dent, the 20-year-old American, had been pencilled in to play at the Coral Beach Club tournament last year only to have to turn down the opportunity through injury.

However, tournament director Alec Anderson last week confirmed that the Californian would be making an appearance next month, and his agent Oliver Van Lindonk of IMG said the player was very much looking forward to it.

"He is excited. It's one of the tournaments that's not only fun, but it's a good way to get some points," said Van Lindonk. "It's pretty crucial for his ranking because he wants to get into Wimbledon."

The agent said the player had been plagued by a back problem last season.

"He kept playing and he was too eager and maybe too young," Van Lindonk said.

"He played some really good tournaments here and there but the biggest focus was still his back."

Prior to an appearance at the Australian Open this year he visited the renowned Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colorado.

"They helped Monica Seles when she was stabbed and they help a lot of our pro athletes, not just tennis players," said Van Lindonk. "When (former San Francisco 49er quarterback) Joe Montana had problems he went there and we have a very good relationship with them.

"They found out that two little nerves in his back were what was hurting him. They fixed that, he changed his service motion a little bit and he has been pain free ever since."

Dent then beat Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Germany's Tommy Haas in a warm-up for Australia and then got to the third round of the Open before falling to Adrian Voinea of Romania in five sets.

"This week he is 98 in the world, which is the first time he has got into the top 100 - so he is excited about that," said Van Lindonk.

Dent plays a power serve and volley game and although Coral Beach is not his favourite surface, Van Lindonk said he should be among the title favourites.

"He really is one of the true serve and volley guys out there," he said. "I am not sure on clay if he would be the favourite but I would like to think he would do OK. I would like to think he is definitely a contender to win."

Whether he wins here or not Van Lindonk is convinced his man will win a title, and probably a major one, in the not too distant future.

"If you ask him he says his best chance of winning a Grand Slam would probably be Wimbledon," he said. "He would love to go out and win the French just to show everyone they are wrong (to presume he can't win on clay), but realistically he plays his best at Wimbledon. "He took (Lleyton) Hewitt to five sets last year and the first Challenger he won was on grass too. With his game and coming in so much it is pretty obvious that grass is his surface."

Van Lindonk likened Dent to Bermuda-resident and Australian idol, Pat Rafter.

"I think he is kind of on a Rafter-track. I think his strongest years are going to be by 25, 26 or 27. If you ask me do I think he can win a Grand Slam? I think he can. Otherwise I don't think we would have put all this effort, time and money into it," he said.

With the number of tournaments in the US that are similar to Bermuda on the decline, Van Lindonk said the XL was one Dent liked.

"He is a very relaxed kid, he doesn't go out and party, he is very mellow so he likes the atmosphere," he said. "People are very relaxed and very friendly and that's kind of how he is. Overall he is just a nice kid."