DAN COX may have suffered a loss in his opening match of Wimbledon qualifying, but as a consolation he will be rubbing shoulders with some of the worlds top players in a prestigious exhibition tournament.

The 20-year-old is taking part in the Boodles Challenge at Stoke Park in London, an event which will also include former Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian, Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic and world number five Nikolay Davydenko.

Lincoln tennis star Daniel Cox.

The history of the Boodles Challenge reads like a who's who of tennis superstars with Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Tim Henman and current British number one Andy Murray all among the former competitors.

"It is a great tournament to play in and very prestigious," explained Cox.

"Lots of the top players use the Boodles Challenge to make their final preparations for Wimbledon next week. I am really looking forward to it because there will be some big, big names there." Cox was due to play Evgeny Korolev, from Russia, ranked 77 in the world.

The former Hykeham student moved on to the Boodles event after losing his first qualifying round for Wimbledon on Monday at the Bank of England Sports Ground in Roehampton.

He lost a tough opening clash with French opponent Sebastien De Chaunac 4-6, 6-7. The big-hitting base-liner is ranked more than 300 places above Cox at 227 in the world, but the game turned out to be a close affair.

"It was quite close in the end," added Cox. "It was very frustrating though, because I didn't start relaxing and playing well until I was 5-4 down in the second set and he was serving for the match.

"I seemed to rediscover my best game and broke his serve. Then, in the ties break, I was 6-3 down and won two points against his serve.

"There was then a long, long rally and I attempted a back-hand winner which hit the top of the net and came back on the wrong side.

"There was a point in the game where I thought I could turn things around, but it slipped away. I just stiffened up a little in my body. It is disappointing because I really wanted to get there (Wimbledon) as a singles player and I have been playing well enough really."

There will be no time for Cox to ponder over what might have been, as he will be flying to Norway next week in order to defend his title won at Gausdal last season.

"There is a very strong entry field this year so to successfully defend my title will be very difficult," he added.