Bermuda's top male tennis players have put their recent Davis Cup disappointment firmly behind them ahead of this month's CAC Games, Bermuda Lawn and Tennis Association (BTFA) president David Lambert insisted yesterday.

The Island's team was relegated to the Davis Cup Americas Zone Group IV last week after failing to win any of their Group III ties.

Male Athlete of the Year Gavin Manders, David Thomas, Naim Azhar and Neal Towlson return to Puerto Rico later this month to take on the best players from the Central American and Caribbean region.

"We're sending Bermuda's best to represent our country," said Lambert.

"All of our players have represented Bermuda previously and are aware of the high level of competition that they may encounter.

"As a result both the male and female teams have been training on a regular basis at a high level of play."

Although Team Bermuda dropped down a division in the Davis Cup it was still a historic occasion with Manders winning the Island's first match at the Group III level.

And Lambert is adamant the Davis Cup heartache will have served as a good learning curve for the foursome.

"As for as the Davis Cup team, we're very proud of the strong fight our players gave and we're sure this exposure will assist them in preparations for the CAC Games," he said.

"We, the BLTA, fully support all of our players and we are sure that they will offer their best as they have done in the past."

Lambert siblings, Tara and Jacklyn, and Caitlin 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.

The trio will compete in the ladies division in Puerto Rico.

The BLTA did request rising star Tyler Smith, 13, to represent Bermuda at the CAC Games but it was turned down by the organisers because she was deemed too young.

The CAC Games tennis tournament will see each player compete in two divisions that include men's and women's singles and doubles as well as mixed doubles.