He won the men’s $10,000 event last October and is now seeded No 2 in this competition, behind top-seeded Jacob Adaktusson of Sweden who recently qualified for round one of the Australian Open.
Other British players in the main draw include David Sherwood and Davis Cup player Alan Mackin.
All the top ladies seeds have made it through the qualifiers, leaving 16 players vying for eight places in the main draw of the $25,000 international tournament.
Four of the six British women are drawn against each other while wild card entrant Georgina Stoop (GB) finds herself drawn to play against German Angelika Roesch who was seeded 69th in the world just 18 months ago, before injury took her out of the circuit.
‘Yesterday saw another great display of tennis,’ said tournament director Hugh Raymond.
‘A lot of the matches went to three sets and today will be the day for higher-ranked players to come into the draw.’
