Martin Lee phoned his parents in East Preston to tell them the news.

He spluttered down the phone line from Melbourne: "Have you heard, I've got in."

The 23-year-old was in a state of high excitement. Former Wimbledon finalist Cedric Pioline had dropped out and Lee had secured a place in the main draw of the Australian Open next week.

His father and former coach Brian believes it is a reward for his son learning to stand on his own two feet.

The left-hander stood accused of accepting the soft option of any wild card that was going, particularly each time Wimbledon came round.

The British No.3, like all his professional tennis-playing compatriots, Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski aside, has needed any guaranteed monies to help him bankroll the year. A first round defeat at The Championships, of instance, has put a five-figure sum in his pocket.

Expenses to compete across the world on the satellite and challenger circuits run by the ATP Tour can be vast. Yet it is an essential outlay for players desperate to gain ranking points to edge up the list.

Lee took the decision to decline a free ride into tournaments events and it has paid off.

The Angmering Club ace has maintained a place just outside the top 100 for the second half of last year and competes in the Open at his highest-ever ranking of 103. Brian said: "I think the moment Martin refused wild card was a decision that brought about a big breakthrough for him.

"It is tough to survive on the circuit if you are outside the top 100 and it is not surprising so many British players accept wild cards given what it means to them. They need the money desperately.

"But Martin wanted to toughen himself up rather than rely on handouts to keep him going. He started at Wimbledon last summer when he told the LTA he didn't want a wild card. He wanted to be in the main draw whether as of right or through qualifying.

"It meant the whole emphasis has changed for him. He now has to stand on his own two feet all the time and he hasn't had to rely on a wild card since.

"He could have ended up with everything going wrong but he was brave enough to make the decision.

"Martin has produced his most consistent year in six years on the professional circuit and it has given him so much extra confidence.

"When he got into the US Open main draw last year it was the first time he had done so as of right in any Grand Slam. Now he has done it a second time he is bubbly and upbeat."

Lee senior feels new coach Dave Sammel and sport psychologist Gloria Budd have played their roles in his son's improvement.

"Martin had many good years with Ian Barclay, who coached Pat Cash to the Wimbledon title, and James Turner helped him.

"He has gone on with Dave because they get on so well. They gel. A player can have similar philosophies to his coach but if they don't get on it won't work. It is certainly working for Martin with Dave.

"He has taken him across to Australia with him.

"He sees Gloria from time to time."

Lee has earned around £200,000 in prize money since turning professional, but his father is convinced that he needs to earn at least half that amount each year to push on towards the top 20.

"Martin could move into the top 100 with a couple of wins at the Open and that leaves him with another goal: the top 50. The very top players have their entourage with them at all times for anything they may need, like a coach, trainer, dietician, psychologist, whatever. For Martin to have all that on tap he'd have to earn another about £100,000 a year.

"At the moment he has Dave for the Grand Slams. He's looking at another big step."

Lee has started off the year solidly. He took Oliver Rochus from Belgium, who is ranked in the world's top 70, to three sets in Chennai, India, before flying to Australia.

He beat the Belgium's brother Christophe, also in the top 70, in the second round of qualifying for this week's Sydney event after overcoming Australian Alun Jones.

Lee eventually fell to Ramon Delgado (Paraguay) in the final but, with the likes of South African Wayne Ferreira in qualifying, he was among some big players.

He is already further on at the Australian Open than he was 12 months ago, having been knocked out in the second qualifying round by Russian Nikoly Davydenko.

Brian is delighted by his son's progress.

"I never felt he'd be a shooting star. Quite often those who shoot up come down quickly. Martin's progress has been consistent and steady, a bit like Henman's.

"As a father I could tell what made him tick and that came in useful sometimes when I coached him.

"It was clear he had reasonable control of the ball, but he lacked control of himself at times.

"But he has now found a way though that and coupled with his consistency, is on schedule.

"He's had a lot of injuries on the way but last year was pretty much injury free and it showed.

"Now he can move forward again. It won't be easy because he will be bottom of a new league inside the top 100 but he has shown that he has the right approach to do it."

Lee said: "I've had the best year of my life. I'm very pleased with the consistency I've shown. Maintaining your ranking is hard enough, moving up is even harder, but I'm feeling good and I'm looking to the Australian Open and beyond with confidence."

Lee is almost certain to be named next week in the British Davis Cup squad to face Sweden.

Davis Cup captain Roger Taylor is delighted that Lee has made his second Grand Slam main draw on ranking.

He said: "I'm very pleased for Martin. It is a real achievement that he is in as of right. Now he'll be keen to do well."