Teenage wildcard Scoville Jenkins takes on number two seed Gilles Muller tonight in the opening feature match of this year?s XL Bermuda Open.

The 19-year-old, who was beaten here last year by eventual winner Tomas Zib, will take on the 6ft 5 ins world number 73 from Luxembourg at 6.30 p.m. on the Coral Beach centre court.

Top seed Paul Goldstein, who is drawn against Frenchman Antony Dupuis, and Mark Phillipoussis, who will take on number five seed Juan Antonio Marin, have avoided action on a first day that will see five singles and three doubles matches played.

Meanwhile, Mardy Fish, who will play fellow wildcard Jesse Witten in the opening round, comes into the XL in outstanding form.

The former world number number 17 claimed the US Men?s Claycourt championships in Houston last night with a three-set victory over Jurgen Melzer.

Fish, who also entered the Texas tournament courtesy of a wildcard, picked up more than $50,000 for his triumph ? the second win of his career and the first for three years.

Also taking their place in the main draw after a weekend of qualifying action will be perennial Bermuda visitor and former Grand Slam quarter-finalist Michael Russell, American Nikita Kryvonos, Israeli Harel Levy and Argentinian Gustavo Marcaccio.

All the players battled through two games to earn their spots among the big boys, one on Saturday in the sunshine and another in yesterday?s wind.

Arguably the easiest route to the final was taken by Levy, who reached the semi-finals from the qualifiers two years ago on his only other visit here.

Levy, ranked 224 in the world, played just a few minutes in the heat against local James Collieson before the latter withdrew with an elbow problem and then became the first qualifier to officially book a place in the next round courtesy of a relatively comfortable 6-2, 6-4 victory over American eighth qualifying seed Eric Butorac.

And Levy, a tall and powerful player who was beaten by fellow XL player Kevin Kim in the first round of this year?s Australian Open, is hoping for another strong run.

?I am feeling pretty good,? said the Israeli number one and former world number 30, with over $1 million in career earnings under his belt.

?I have had a couple of weeks off with a shoulder injury but I am feeling good now. I like playing in Bermuda, it is a great venue for tennis.

?It was tough today with the conditions and all the wind but hopefully it will settle down for the real tournament.?

Levy will take on Tyler Cleveland of the United States in the first round.

All yesterday?s qualifiers came through their matches in straight sets with Russell beating Mashishka Washington, brother of Malivai, 6-2, 6-1 and will now play Razvan Sabau of Romania today. Marcaccio, who beat compatriot Pablo Fuente 6-3, 7-5, will take on Alex Bogomolov jr of America in the opening game on centre court today while Kryvonos, who beat Frank Moser 6-3, 6-4, will play wildcard compatriot Alex Kuznetsov.

With world number 76 Vince Spadea pulling out with an injury sustained in the Claycourt championships in Texas, German Moser gets a reprieve and goes through as a lucky loser to take on Nathan Healy of Australia today on Court Seven.

The other singles tie today sees Oscar Hernandez take on fellow Spaniard Albert Montanes.

Other key matches in the first round, to be played over the next couple of days, include number three seed Marcos Daniel of Brazil against Fernando Vicente and former top seed Kim against US compatriot Zack Fleishman.