Bermuda's Under 12 Boys' tennis team faced a baptism of fire in their opening match of the 2025 International Tennis Federation (ITF)/COTECC Sub Region 3 competition in the Dominican Republic, narrowly losing 2-1 to a strong Puerto Rico side in a series of gripping three-set encounters.
The Bermudian squad, led by captain Evan Heyliger and comprising Trystan Thompson, Oliver Anderson, and Manuel Maldonado, showed immense fighting spirit throughout the tie.
The day began on a high note for Bermuda. Thompson delivered a masterful comeback, overcoming a first-set deficit to win a thrilling three-set battle against Jose Juan Betancourt. Thompson triumphed 2-6, 6-1, 6-1, giving Bermuda an early 1-0 lead and setting a high standard for the team.
Next up was Maldonado, who also found himself in a prolonged struggle. Maldonado won the first set against Puerto Rico's Francisco Perez, but ultimately couldn't maintain his momentum, falling 6-0, 6-3 in the subsequent sets. This leveled the tie at 1-1, pushing the rubber to the decisive doubles match.
The tension continued into the doubles, where the fate of the tie rested on the shoulders of Anderson and Maldonado. They faced the Puerto Rican pairing of Perez and Betancourt in what became the third three-set match of the day. Anderson and Maldonado started strongly, claiming the first set 6-3. However, the Puerto Rican duo fought back, leveling the match by taking the second set 6-3. The tie-breaker for the third set was a nail-biter, with Perez and Betancourt ultimately closing out the victory 10-7, securing the overall 2-1 win for Puerto Rico.
Despite the narrow defeat, the Bermudian Under 12 Boys demonstrated tremendous resilience and competitive spirit against a formidable opponent. Captain Heyliger will undoubtedly be proud of his team's effort and fighting display in their international debut.
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