Bermuda Pickleball players battled fiercely against top International competition at the 2024 Pickleball Peru World Cup, showcasing their skill and determination in a series of thrilling matches.
Their opening encounter against the Cayman Islands was a nail-biter, ending in a 2 - 2 draw. Sasha Fisher and Imani Phillips ignited the Bermudian charge with a hard-fought 21-17 victory in Women's Doubles against Elena Testori and Anita Warhurst. However, Gavin Manders and Benjamin Jones faced a tough challenge in Men's Doubles, falling 21-12 to Michael Carse and Yaniv Semo.
The Mixed Doubles matches were equally intense. Manders and Fisher edged out Carse and Testori 21-19 in a gripping contest, but Jones and Phillips narrowly lost 21-19 to Semo and Jess Murie, leaving the final score deadlocked.
Bermuda bounced back with a decisive 3 - 1 victory over Canada. Fisher and Phillips once again led the way, dominating Polina Grace and Casey Rodgers 15-8 in Women's Doubles. Despite a close 17-15 loss for Jones and Manders against Conor Weeks and Caelan Sampson in Men's Doubles, Bermuda regained the lead with a 15-13 win for Fisher and Manders over Rodgers and Sampson in Mixed Doubles. Jones and Phillips sealed the victory with a 15-10 triumph over Grace and Weeks.
Facing a formidable opponent in Chinese Taipei, Bermuda fell to a 3 - 1 defeat. Phillips and Fisher faced a tough challenge in Women's Doubles, losing 15-12 to Kelly Chen and Li-ting Su. Manders and Jones leveled the score with a 15-9 win over Yu-Fong Ciou and Chun-Yu Liu, but close losses in both mixed doubles matches ultimately decided the tie in favor of Chinese Taipei.
Bermuda rebounded with a dominant 4 - 0 sweep against Chile. Fisher and Melisa Judd secured a 15-11 victory in Women's Doubles, while Manders and Jones delivered a commanding 15-6 win in Men's Doubles. The Mixed Doubles pairs continued the momentum, with Manders and Fisher winning 15-8 and Jones and Judd completing the sweep with a 15-11 victory.
In the Over 50 category, Bermuda faced a tough test against Mexico but emerged victorious with a 3 - 1 win. Christine Todd and Tori Powell set the stage with a convincing 21-10 victory in women's doubles, followed by a 21-15 win for Mark Cordeiro and Michael Way in men's doubles. Despite a setback in the first mixed doubles match, Cordeiro and Powell secured the winning point with a 21-18 victory.
Throughout the tournament, Bermuda's pickleball players demonstrated their competitive spirit and resilience, facing each challenge with determination and skill. Their performances highlighted the growing strength of pickleball in Bermuda and showcased the island's talent on the international stage.
