bowl called the Davis Cup.

Starting next week, Bermuda become personally involved in what is billed as the largest annual team competition in sport.

Just three years after becoming fully-fledged members of the International Tennis Federation, the Island will host ten Caribbean and Central American countries in the American Zone Group III and IV championships.

The schedule has been drawn up and the teams have been named. And after just five days of competition that ends on Saturday, May 3, four of the 11 countries taking part will be promoted and two will be demoted.

In contrast to, say, last week's XL Bermuda Open, patriotism, and not prize money is on the line. But then again the quality of players won't be in the same league either.

Bermuda's squad of Michael Way, Donald Evans, Ricky Mallory and James Collieson play just two ties, meeting Costa Rica next Thursday and then Eastern Caribbean two days later. A victory against either will propel them into Group III next year.

That's certainly what they're counting on: Last year, Bermuda earned their first win in Davis Cup by beating OECS and there's no reason to doubt that this year's foursome won't be stronger.

Evans, Way and Mallory played in the Bermuda Open and while they were knocked out in the qualifying round, just hitting with professionals ranked in triple digits by the ATP was a warm-up they needed.

By means of comparison, only one of the players heading to Bermuda -- Gavaskar Williams of Antigua and Barbuda -- competes on the professional tour, checking in at number 1,120.

And because he's in Group III, Bermuda won't even face him.

The format for this Davis Cup tournament is two singles matches and one doubles match, all best-of-three. Team captains will select their players the day before.

Four ties kick off the competition next Tuesday: Antigua/Barbuda v Trinidad and Tobago; Panama v Barbados; Jamaica v Guatemala, and Bolivia v Dominican Republic. All are in Group III.

DAVIS CUP TEAMS Players competing in the Davis Cup American Zone Groups III and IV Antigua/Barbuda: Gavaskar Williams, Philip Williamson, Fitzroy Anthony, John Maginley Barbados: Bernard Frost, Craig Smith, Duane Williams, James Betts Trinidad and Tobago: Orville Adams, Simon Evelyn, Ivor Grazette, Ronald Greaves Panama: Chad Valdez, Juan Pablo Herrera, Carlos Silva, Carlos Vargan Bolivia: Pablo Ugarte, Carlos Navarro Vergaro, Eduardo Kohlberg, Ramiro Benavides Dominican Republic: Rodrigo Vallejo, Jorge Duenas, Sixto Camacho, Genaro DeLeon Guatemala: Daniel Chavez Morales, Andres Asturias, Luis Perez Chete, Luis Valencia Jamaica: Nicholas Malcolm, Jermaine Smith, Elvis Henry, Jessie Smatt Costa Rica: Martin Echandi, Javier Solera, Fernando Martinez, Hans Van der Last OECS: Vernon Lewis, Kirtsen Cable, Glynne James, Gary Eugene Bermuda: Michael Way, Donald Evans, James Collieson, Ricky Mallory