Tyler's too young to compete at CAC Games

By Colin Thompson 

CAC Games organizers have turned down a request to have rising tennis star Tyler Smith represent Bermuda at next month’s regional event in Puerto Rico.

Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association had hoped that the promising 13-year-old female tennis player would be given the thumbs up to play — despite being ineligible to do so because of her age.     

But in compliance with ITF rules designed to protect junior players from “burnout”, CAC Games organizers have denied the island’s request.

Commenting on the snub, BLTA president David Lambert said: “It is unfortunate because Tyler is certainly good enough – she is definitely an early achiever. But this law actually protects junior players from burnout and also from being discouraged by playing against more senior opposition. Therefore we accept and respect the guidelines that the ITF and CAC Games organizers have put in place.”

Bermuda’s CAC women’s tennis team now comprises of sisters Tara and Jacklyn Lambert, Caitlin Gordon and another rising star Zaire Simmons.

The Lambert siblings and Gordon represented Bermuda earlier this year in the Fed Cup in Ecuador where they finished eighth among the ten participating countries in the Americas Zone Group II with an overall 1-4 record.

Bermuda’s CAC Games men’s team is comprised of top player Gavin Manders, Niam Azhar, David Thomas and rising star Neal Towlson – son of former Vasco defender Paul Towlson.

Manders, Towlson, Thomas and Azhar will also carry the island’s Davis Cup Americas Zone Group III hopes in Puerto Rico just prior to the CAC Games.   

BLTA chief Lambert believes on paper the island has assembled a formidable CAC Games team capable of holding their own in Puerto Rico.

He added: “We are carrying two strong teams for the CAC Games and all of our players are seasoned international players. All of the players are starting to prepare for the CAC Games and we are quite pleased with what we have seen so far of the players who are currently back in Bermuda working with coaches Coolridge Place and Steve Bean.

“Many of the teams we will play at the CAC Games we have played before, either in Davis or Fed Cup. We plan on doing our best and if the players are striking form when they should, then we should be very pleased with the results. It’s not going to be easy, but everyone is preparing and starting to strike form.”

Also travelling to the Caribbean is Ian Gordon in the capacity of team manager.

The CAC Games tennis tournament, to run from July 26 to August 1, will see each of the island’s players compete in two divisions that include men’s and women’s singles and doubles as well as mixed doubles. n

Tyler Smith, one of Bermuda’s top female tennis players, can’t play in the CAC Games because of ITF rules that do not want young players to get burned out.

CAC Games organizers have turned down a request to have rising tennis star Tyler Smith represent Bermuda at next month’s regional event in Puerto Rico.

Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association had hoped that the promising 13-year-old female tennis player would be given the thumbs up to play — despite being ineligible to do so because of her age.     

But in compliance with ITF rules designed to protect junior players from “burnout”, CAC Games organizers have denied the island’s request.

Commenting on the snub, BLTA president David Lambert said: “It is unfortunate because Tyler is certainly good enough – she is definitely an early achiever. But this law actually protects junior players from burnout and also from being discouraged by playing against more senior opposition. Therefore we accept and respect the guidelines that the ITF and CAC Games organizers have put in place.”

Bermuda’s CAC women’s tennis team now comprises of sisters Tara and Jacklyn Lambert, Caitlin Gordon and another rising star Zaire Simmons.

The Lambert siblings and Gordon represented Bermuda earlier this year in the Fed Cup in Ecuador where they finished eighth among the ten participating countries in the Americas Zone Group II with an overall 1-4 record.

Bermuda’s CAC Games men’s team is comprised of top player Gavin Manders, Niam Azhar, David Thomas and rising star Neal Towlson – son of former Vasco defender Paul Towlson.

Manders, Towlson, Thomas and Azhar will also carry the island’s Davis Cup Americas Zone Group III hopes

in Puerto Rico just prior to the CAC Games.   

BLTA chief Lambert believes on paper the island has assembled a formidable CAC Games team capable of holding their own in Puerto Rico.

He added: “We are carrying two strong teams for the CAC Games and all of our players are seasoned international players. All of the players are starting to prepare for the CAC Games and we are quite pleased with what we have seen so far of the players who are currently back in Bermuda working with coaches Coolridge Place and Steve Bean.

“Many of the teams we will play at the CAC Games we have played before, either in Davis or Fed Cup. We plan on doing our best and if the players are striking form when they should, then we should be very pleased with the results. It’s not going to be easy, but everyone is preparing and starting to strike form.”

Also travelling to the Caribbean is Ian Gordon in the capacity of team manager.

The CAC Games tennis tournament, to run from July 26 to August 1, will see each of the island’s players compete in two divisions that include men’s and women’s singles and doubles as well as mixed doubles.