Cup helped them in their Bermuda Open qualifying quest. Both players also intend to chase their tour dreams again next year.

Said Evans: "This was a level, or half-level higher than what was going on down (in Santo Domingo). That was very good and necessary to be competitive here, in order to play at this level.'' Echoed Way: "I think it helped because I guess I wasn't as nervous as I would have been. But the guys I played at Davis Cup weren't quite up to this level.

"That I was in (this) match more than some of the ones in Davis Cup makes me think I'm probably improving.'' When asked if he'd try to qualify the next time around Way added: "Well, I'm getting a little older, but, yeah, I'll probably play next year. I don't see anyone in Bermuda coming up and bumping me off the number one spot. So I'll be around to play, I'm sure.'' JASON STOLTENBERG , ranked second in the Open in singles and winner of his first round match yesterday, is looking forward to his role as Australia's player-captain at the Peugeot World Team Cup next month at Dusseldorf.

"I'll be standing courtside, watching them during practice and telling them what to do. I can feel the power, it's unbelievable. I'll bring those blokes into line, and when I say `jump' they must ask `how high?' I won't take any rubbish.'' TENNIS legend Rod Laver arrives in Bermuda today where he'll mingle primarily with tournament sponsors and box seat holders. Tom Gorman , already on the Island and lined up to do the same thing, was searching for a doctor on Saturday when his daughter, who's travelling with him, was suffering from an ear infection.

GERMANY'S Karsten Braasch has been a recognisable figure at Coral Beach, playing for the second time here. He's the only player in Bermuda who wears glasses on court, although Jason Stoltenberg used to wear them but now wears contact lenses.

"I can't play with them (contact lenses) because for some reason I can't judge the distance between the ball and the racquet,'' said Braasch. "I don't know whether it's because the ball comes so fast, I don't know whether it's a metre and a half or two metres away. And then it's tough to hit.'' MATS WILANDER is trying not to take practice too seriously these days. "I try and take it lighthearted,'' he said. "To be serious in practice these days is too serious for me. I'm trying not to be so serious when I'm playing my matches.

"I'm not that focused the day before a match like I used to be. Before I used to get ready the whole day before, you know, eat properly and all that. I think now it's more like I wake up in the morning and that's when I start concentrating. It's too much to start too early.'' Wilander used to bring his guitar with him on tour, but no longer. "Just my golf clubs.'' HOW does Todd Martin feel about all the attention he's getting here? "I think the fact that Bermuda is new to tournament tennis and especially since this is the first year (for an ATP/World Series/USTA event), I think there's a little bit more than I'm used to.

"Just considering the smallness of the Island...to have people come and watch practice instead of watching matches and just the comments I've had from some people and even their one (tennis) reporter is out talking to me.'' Like most of the players from the US here (there are 10 of them), Martin is working on his clay court game prior to next month's French Open.

"I want to learn how to play the clay court points better and learn how to play the points better regardless of the surface.'' Comparing the Coral Beach clay to European clay, he added: "The European clay has better footing, but the only European clay I have recollection of is at Roland Garros (France) which is really, probably, the best. The fact that the clay here is a little slippery could hamper my lack of mobility rather than hurt the guys who are more quick.'' When informed that Karsten Braasch said that he may have difficulty on the clay here Martin smiled, adding: "Karsten knows nothing, don't listen to him.'' IT was a lucky bonus of sorts for Greg Sharko , director of Media Services for the ATP Tour, when he was given the Bermuda assignment after Communications Manager Joe Lynch was forced to stay behind at the tour's Florida offices.

Lynch underwent knee surgery a few weeks ago because of a basketball injury.

Sharko is also a basketball fan and usually his first question of the day is: "What did Jordan end up with last night.'' SERIOUS BUSINESS -- Argentina's Davis Cup star Javier Frana is a picture of concentration on his way to a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Germany's Carl-Uwe Steeb in a first round match yesterday.

Photos by Tony Cordeiro TAKE THAT! -- America's Lou Gloria crushes this shot down the line against second seed Jason Stoltenberg of Australia. It was the Aussie, however, who came away victorious, winning 6-4, 6-4.