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Sunday, February 22, 2026
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Tough Start for Bermuda's Junior Stars in Guatemala
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Bermuda's young tennis hopefuls faced a daunting opening test at the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup NAMCAM Pre-Qualifying Tournament, falling to a clinical Dominican Republic side in their first Under-16 Boys Round Robin fixture.
Competing in Group 1 at the high-altitude clay courts of Guatemala, the Bermudian trio found the transition to the technical surface a significant challenge against a seasoned Dominican squad. The tone for the tie was set in the opening singles match, where Jaden Jones struggled to find his rhythm against Daniel Ramirez. Despite flashes of resilience, Jones went down in straight sets 6-1, 6-3, as Ramirez secured the early lead for his nation.
The deficit was doubled in the second singles rubber as Michael Collins faced off against Miguel Baquero. Collins battled hard through a series of grueling baseline exchanges, but Baquero’s consistency on the red dirt proved decisive, as he claimed a 6-2, 6-1 victory to ensure the Dominican Republic took an unassailable 2–0 lead in the tie.
Bermuda looked to salvage a point in the concluding doubles match, with Collins and Jones teaming up to face the formidable pairing of Baquero and Ramirez. However, the Dominican duo maintained their dominance at the net, closing out a 6-2, 6-2 win to complete a comprehensive 3–0 sweep.
The Bermudian squad, led by veteran coach Brent Smith, must now regroup quickly as they look to keep their qualification hopes alive in the remaining group matches. With the tournament serving as the primary gateway to the final qualifying rounds in Canada this April, the young stars will be targeting a bounce-back performance in their next scheduled rubber.
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Friday, February 20, 2026
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Young Stars head for Guatemala for Junior Davis Cup
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Bermuda’s Junior Davis Cup hopefuls have begun their journey to Guatemala for the high-stakes Pre-Qualifying Tournament. The trio of Michael Collins, Hassan Khan, and Jaden Jones are set to represent the island in the prestigious event, which runs from February 22nd to the 27th.
The tournament serves as the crucial gateway for nations across North, Central America, and the Caribbean as they look to advance through the world’s premier junior team competition. For the young Bermudians, it represents an opportunity to test their mettle against the region's elite prospects on a significant international stage.
The squad is traveling under the experienced stewardship of veteran coach Brent Smith. Smith’s primary challenge will be preparing the players for the unique demands of Guatemala City, where high-altitude conditions and technical clay courts often play a decisive role in the outcome of matches.
The transition from Bermuda's local courts to the grueling clay surfaces of Central America will require both tactical discipline and physical resilience. As the competition draws near, the focus remains on navigating these environmental hurdles to secure a spot in the next stage of the global tournament.
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Monday, February 16, 2026
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Terceira Makes History with Stunning Miami Open Triumph
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Lee Terceira has etched her name into the history books of Bermudian tennis after a remarkable victory at a Level 5 Open USTA Tournament in Miami. In doing so, she has become the first female junior player from the island to both compete in and win a Level 5 event in the Under 12 Division.
The achievement is all the more extraordinary given that Terceira was not originally accepted into the tournament draw due to her ranking. It was only following a series of late withdrawals that a spot became available, and the young Bermudian received confirmation of her entry only the night before the first round began.
She began her campaign with a clinical performance in the Round of 16, dispatching Bhuvika Syamagari from Illinois in straight sets. However, the true test of Terceira's resolve arrived in the quarter-finals against the second seed, Sophie Murphy Alvarez. After dropping a one-sided first set, Terceira showed immense character to level the match by taking the second set 6-3. Her comeback was fueled by high-profile support from the sidelines, as Bermuda’s Davis Cup captain Ricky Mallory and player Trey Mallory arrived at the court to cheer her on. The encouragement proved decisive, as Terceira held her nerve to win the final tie-breaker 10-6.
The semi-final followed a similarly dramatic script. Facing Andrea Rivas, Terceira once again found herself in a marathon battle that required a third-set decider. After losing a tight first-set tie-breaker, she roared back to take the second set and ultimately secured her place in the final with a 10-5 win in the tie-breaker.
In the championship match, Terceira demonstrated she has the temperament for the big occasion. Taking on the number three seed, Lidiia Filippova, the Bermudian produced a disciplined and powerful display to claim the title with a straight-sets victory. The win marks a significant milestone for the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association’s junior development programme and establishes Terceira as one of the region’s most formidable young talents.
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Sunday, February 15, 2026
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Bermuda’s Youngsters Ready for Junior Davis Cup Challenge
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Bermuda has named its three-man squad for the 2026 Junior Davis Cup, with the island’s most promising young talents set to test themselves on the international stage.
Michael Collins, Hassan Khan, and Jaden Jones have been selected to lead the charge as the national team prepares to travel to Guatemala for the highly anticipated Pre-Qualifying Tournament. The event, which runs from February 22nd to the 27th, serves as the gateway for North, Central American, and Caribbean nations looking to progress through the world’s premier junior team competition.
The squad will travel under the stewardship of veteran coach Brent Smith, whose task will be to navigate the high-altitude conditions and technical clay courts often found in Guatemala City. Smith’s role will be pivotal in managing the tactical demands of the tournament, which features a grueling schedule of both singles and doubles rubbers.
For Collins, Khan, and Jones, the call-up represents a significant milestone in their development. The trio have been consistent performers on the local circuit and will now be looking to translate that domestic form into international results.
The Junior Davis Cup is notorious for its intensity, often serving as a proving ground for future ATP stars. Bermuda will face a diverse field of regional rivals, where the primary objective will be to secure a top-place finish to advance to the final qualifying rounds later this spring.
The team has been undergoing intensive preparation at the W.E.R. Joell Tennis Stadium, focusing on the endurance and clay-court movement required for the Guatemalan surface.
The announcement comes at a time of renewed optimism for Bermudian tennis, following the senior team’s recent success in the Davis Cup World Group II. By sending a squad to the Junior edition, the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association continues to invest in the "pathway" that has recently seen players like Daniel Phillips transition successfully to the collegiate and professional ranks.
As the team departs for Guatemala, the focus remains firmly on gainful experience and maintaining Bermuda’s reputation as a resilient competitor in regional team tennis.
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Friday, February 13, 2026
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Phillips & Tulane Edge Out UTSA in Tight Encounter
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Daniel Phillips and his Tulane University teammates navigated a grueling road test, emerging with a hard-fought 4–3 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). The result serves as a significant confidence booster for the Green Wave as they continue their 2026 campaign through a demanding non-conference schedule.
Phillips arrived in Texas carrying significant momentum, fresh off a historic international stint where he played a pivotal role in helping Bermuda advance to World Group II of the Davis Cup. That high-level experience was immediately evident as he took to the court for the opening doubles session.
The Bermudian standout partnered with Lance Nisbet to anchor the doubles charge. Facing the duo of Oskar Grzegorzewski and Ben Chetewy Ungar, the Tulane pair displayed excellent chemistry and clinical net play to secure a 6–3 victory. Their win proved decisive, providing the momentum necessary for Tulane to clinch the vital doubles point and take an early lead in the overall match score.
The spotlight remained on Phillips as the match transitioned to the singles courts. Currently ranked 1,535th in the world, the Bermudian was handed the responsibility of the number one singles spot, where he faced a formidable opponent in Grzegorzewski, the world number 1,271.
Phillips began the contest in imperious fashion, breaking serve early to take the opening set 6–3. However, the higher-ranked Grzegorzewski responded with typical resilience. The UTSA lead man dominated the second set 6–1 to level the match and force a decider.
Despite a battling effort from the Tulane sophomore, Grzegorzewski eventually pulled away in the third set, claiming a 6–2 win to secure a point for the hosts. While Phillips fell just short in the individual marathon, his contribution to the doubles point and the pressure exerted at the top of the lineup provided the foundation for Tulane to edge the overall contest.
With this victory in the bag, the Green Wave will look to build on their cohesive team performance as they prepare for the meat of their American Athletic Conference schedule.
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