Ross Connolly, who starts his campaign today in the British Tour event at Ilkley, is considering leaving Nick Bollettieri's Sports Acad-emy in Florida.

The 19-year-old, who is playing in his home-town tournament, confessed yesterday: "It has been a really good move for me going there to get to where I am now.

"But now I am starting to play more tournaments I need more court time and there are so many people there. It is all right when Nick is around, but when he isn't it is difficult getting court time."

Connolly, who started at the academy in September, 2001 only to be out for a year with a knee injury, said: "The attitude in the States is so different to that of the LTA.

"If you don't get backing over here by the time you are 14 you are on the scrapheap, but in America you can go to college and come out aged 22 or 23 and they are much more open-minded and positive."

Connolly, who has taken a set off world No 66 Tommy Haas in a practice match at the academy and been a break up against Greg Rusedski, added: "There isn't that much difference bet-ween them and someone ranked 400 in the world. It is just a question of what they do when they are a break point down.

"Playing against them has encouraged me. Before when I was entering $10,000 tournaments I would lose in the first round of qualifying and not get close to winning, but now I am qualifying for the main draw and losing in three sets to seeded players."

Mirfield's Bobby Brooke was a first-round casualty himself at Ilkley, losing 6-3, 6-1 to Lancastrian Andrew Davies.

In the women's singles, Keighley's Jennifer Nemeth lost 6-2, 7-6 to sixth-seeded former Yorkshire champion Carina Dalton in the second round.

"I was getting used to the grass in the first set," confessed 17-year-old Bolton Arena squad member Nem-eth. "But in the second set I was more relaxed. I was 5-3 up only to lose my serve to 15, and I suffered with a few dodgy bounces."

Hull's Victoria Sharpley was beaten 6-3, 6-2 by Dur-ham's Claire Smith. Hudd-ersfield's Alex Cummine lost 6-3, 7-5 in the first round to Jean Gregson (Notts).