Celebrations went well into the night as Bermuda's Men's National tennis team etched its name into the history books following a monumental 3-2 victory over Georgia in the Davis Cup World Group II play-offs. Competing at the Herodotou Tennis Academy in Cyprus, the team secured a promotion that marks the first time a Bermudian men's side has reached this elite level on the global stage.
Owen Darrell, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport, expressed immense pride in the team's achievement, highlighting the significance of the win as a "World Cup" moment for the island.
"This is huge news... this is like the World Cup of tennis," Minister Darrell noted. "The fact that Bermuda has secured a victory on this level of competition is exciting news... I am very proud of the result that these Bermudians have received against Georgia."
Opposition leader and Shadow Minister of Sport Ben Smith said, “On the Davis Cup victory this is another amazing accomplishment by Bermuda athletes. Although this step up will be a harder challenge that is exactly what sports should be. We are producing world class Tennis players and this victory will be a catalyst to our junior Tennis players for what is possible. Congratulations to the Bermuda team and full support to them as they step up to the next challenge. I hope this will lead to even more funding and support for the sport of Tennis.”
Michael Wolfe, President of the BLTA, shared the sense of overwhelming joy. "What we have witnessed in Cyprus is nothing short of legendary," Wolfe said. "By defeating a formidable Georgia tennis team, our men's team have not just won a match, they have made history... officially putting Bermuda on the international tennis map in a major way."
The victory was a true team effort, characterized by resilience and clinical performances across both singles and doubles play.
Wayne Montgomery: In his debut for Bermuda, Montgomery delivered the decisive blow, defeating Zura Tkemaladze in a grueling three-set match (2-6, 7-6, 6-2). "My legs are toast... I gave it everything," Montgomery reflected. Despite cramping in the final set, he held his nerve to secure the win for the island.
Daniel Phillips: Phillips provided a dream start for the team by rallying from a set down to win his opening singles match. He emphasized the importance of the team's bond: "The harmony we're having between everyone and the effort the whole team's putting in is really paying off."
Trey Mallory: Partnering with Phillips, Mallory helped secure a critical 2-1 lead with a victory in the doubles. "The doubles was the first—it was one match at a time," Mallory said. "Everyone played well today... everyone left it all out on the court and that's what Bermuda does."
Zachary McGuire: As the youngest member of the squad, McGuire described the historic moment as an "unforgettable" debut experience. "I don't think it could have been any better than this, honestly, the way it came down... it was a great experience."
The promotion is a culmination of a multi-year strategic plan by the BLTA to elevate Bermudian tennis. While the team celebrates this milestone, they are already looking toward the challenges of competing against the world's top-ranked nations.
"Tonight we will celebrate this milestone," said Wolfe. "We recognize that the road ahead, however, in World Group II will be even a bigger challenge. We will certainly need the collective support once again as we move forward to face the world's best teams."
