Will team make Davis Cup history?

A youthful Bermuda team begins its Davis Cup campaign in Puerto Rico today attempting to achieve a feat that no other tennis team in the island’s history has pulled off.

Simply winning a single match in Americas Zone Group III would write the names of Gavin Manders, David Thomas, Na’im Azhar and Neal Towlson into the history books.

At 24, Manders is in the unusual position of being the team’s veteran.

But he believes that Thomas, 21, Azhar, 21 and even 16-year-old school boy Towlson have got the know-how to upset some more established players in Puerto Rico this week.

“It is quite an inexperienced, young team, but at the same time everyone is playing at quite a high level. Hopefully we can make up for that lack of experience with skill.”

Manders will be Bermuda’s key player. But for strategic reasons he may play as Bermuda’s ‘number 2’ in singles match-ups to give him the best chance of a victory for the team.

“Everybody is using strategy. We’ll try and match our strengths to our opponent’s weaknesses. If there is someone I like the look of we’ll match me with them. If there is a player we think David could exploit then we’ll put him up.

“A point is a point, no matter what. We have to go there and try to win whatever it takes.”

Jenson Bascome, a fixture in previous Davis Cup teams, was unavailable for selection this year.

Either Thomas or Azhar will play the other singles games, with both likely to feature at some point alongside Manders in doubles.

The task facing Bermuda couldn’t be much tougher. Manders went through last year’s tournament on the red clay of El Salvador unbeaten to win promotion to Group 3.

The victory means Bermuda are now facing the likes of Costa Rica, Jamaica and Bahamas in a group where they have yet to win a single game.

“I’m trying to keep these guys level headed and help them understand the kind of quality they are going to be up against,” said Manders.

“We’ve been training hard — seven days a week. We’ve been doing a lot of court work as well as sprints on the beach. We’re trying to use Bermuda to our advantage and make sure we are physically and mentally ready.” 

Gavin Manders

Age: 24

College: Ball State University, Indiana

Record: Fifth time at Davis Cup. Current Bermuda Athlete of the Year, Bermuda No 1, undefeated locally since Pomander Gate 2008.

David Thomas

Age: 21

College: Ball State University (senior year)

Record: Davis Cup sophomore year, Ranked #3 in Bermuda.

Na’im Azhar

Age: 20

College: Cumberland University, Tennessee

Record: Davis Cup rookie year, Ranked # 5 in Bermuda.

Neal Towlson

Age: 16

School: Boca Prep and Everett Tennis Academy, Florida

Record: Davis Cup rookie year, Ranked 7 mens and #1 Boys 18 & Under in Bermuda. Neal is a junior elite athlete.