The eagerly anticipated return of professional tennis to Bermuda, which was scheduled for March, has been deferred, with the Bermuda Tennis Championships now slated for next year.

On Friday, the tournament’s organising committee announced that the postponement was made in collaboration with various entities to ensure the delivery of a first-class event that meets the highest standards for participants, sponsors and fans.

Greg Chambaz, the director of Same Group, the company behind bringing the ATP Challenger Tour event to the island, stated that the deferral was due to some difficulties they faced.

“After careful consideration, we have decided to shift the tournament to 2026 due to time frames and logistical challenges,” Chambaz said.

“We are committed to bringing an exceptional experience to Bermuda, and this adjustment will allow us to focus on the finer details that will make the event truly world-class.

“We’d like to sincerely thank those sponsors and partners that committed to the 2025 tourney. We appreciate their understanding and continued support. Bermuda will continue to be at the heart of this exciting event as plans move forward.”

A lot of excitement had been created by the prospective comeback. The organisers, accompanied by the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association leadership, met with Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and Kimberly Charryse Bean, the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation director.

During the gathering, the Government pledged support for the tournament, with enthusiasm generated by the prospect of schoolchildren benefiting from free entry for the daytime sessions.

The return of professional tennis to Bermuda had also created exciting opportunities for local artists. Interested artisans were invited to submit proposals to design the tournament’s trophy collection, with the winner to receive $4,000.

Zoe Mulholland mentioned that the winner had already been decided, with the announcement to be made public once new dates are confirmed.

“The winner of the competition will still be retained for the 2026 tournament,” Mulholland said. “We had not announced the winner yet, but we had arrived at a decision. The plan is to announce the winner when we have dates.”