XL Bermuda Open.

Which is why Byron Black can be excused for not exactly relishing the role of favourite after the first-round ouster of Jason Stoltenberg.

And after seeing third and fourth seeds Sandon Stolle and Scott Draper also eradicated and then having he and Grant Connell losing last night as the top-rated doubles tandem, Black should be even more wary of his status.

Moments following a first-round scare from Jerome Hanquez, a relative unknown French qualifier, Black talked more of self preservation than championship.

"I've just got to do as well as I can. It's my first time on clay (this year) and I'm just taking it one match at a time and I should be getting better and better with every match I play,'' said Black.

"I'm not trying to think about (being the favourite) I'm just trying to concentrate on my next match.'' Black is one who loves to compete, always giving 100 percent and has been rewarded in earning over $2 million during nearly six years as a touring professional.

At 27 and just married, he figures is best years are still ahead of him. His highest rank was 22 back April of last year, a year when he won his first career ATP singles title in Seoul, Korea, but he has since slid down a few notches.

"I think I'm at my peak physically and will be for the next three or four years,'' he said. "I was a late maturer so I have my next three or four years ahead of me and they're going to be my best ones and then I should probably fall off my peak physically when I'm around 31 or 32.'' He's still better known as a doubles players, having taken 15 titles, including the French Open in 1994.