Trey Mallory made history for Bermuda with his singles victory against Antigua and Barbuda No 2 player, Kevin Gardner, in their opening Davis Cup match in Costa Rica on Monday.

Mallory became the first Bermuda player to win a Davis Cup match on his debut, beating Gardner 7-6, 6-2, although it could not prevent Bermuda from losing 2-1 in the Americas Division Three.

David Thomas lost to ATP tour player Jody Maginley 6-1, 6-3 as Antigua tied it up, before Jensen Bascome and Gavin Manders lost their deciding doubles match 7-6, 3-6, 4-6 to Maginley and Carlton Bedminster. Ricky Mallory, the Bermuda tennis director and Davis Cup coach, was a proud father as he watched Trey’s victory.

“The decision made by the [Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association] to rebuild the team and inject juniors into it paid off,” Mallory said. “I’m pleased at how the whole team rallied around Trey and helped him overcome his first match jitters. Wearing a different hat as Trey’s father, I’m extremely proud of his accomplishment.”