Tennis ace Gavin Manders is in a race against the clock to recover from injury ahead of a busy summer of international competition.The Island’s number one men’s player lost half of his baby toe and fractured another and also damaged ligaments in his right shoulder in a traffic accident last December.But he hopes to make a full recovery to be able to represent Bermuda during this year’s Davis Cup and Island Games events.“I really don’t have a lot of time,” Manders said. “Everyone else has had a good little while (to prepare) whereas I’ve been laid up from this accident and I just want to make sure I put myself in place and do whatever I can to be ready.”To enhance his chances of making a full recovery the son of interim national cricket coach Arnold Manders will travel to Boston next week to begin training with top Sri Lankan player and friend Harshana Godamanna for a two- month period.“I’m going out there to get ready for Davis Cup and Island Games and obviously I have this injury that I have to overcome before the summer,” he said. “He (Godamanna) told me if I can make it up there he will do whatever he can to make sure that I’m ready for the summer since I helped him get ready for Davis Cup last year.”Temple of Tennis tennis director and former top player Sam Maybury believes the experience in Boston will do wonders for Manders’ recovery and hopes of resuming his international career this summer.“As far as rehabilitation, I know that the athletic gyms that will be available to Gavin out there works in his favour,” he said. “He also has professional men that are right there pushing the needle in terms of taking themselves beyond their limits so it’s a win, win situation for Gavin.”During his stay in the United States Manders, 27, will also get the opportunity to train with former Saddlebrook Tennis Academy coach Marton Balla and hit some balls with fellow Bermuda Davis Cup and Island Games hopeful Javon Whitter who also teaches tennis.Manders, who has volunteered to coach top juniors at the Sportsmans Tennis and Enrichment Centre while overseas, has also targeted at least two tournaments he hopes to participate in in the New England area in May.While optimistic he can recover from his injury ordeal, the past Male Athlete of the Year Award winner admits the road to recovery has been tough.“It’s a struggle but I just have to take it one day at a time,” he said. “I’m just trying to figure out how to move with the toe pretty much gone. It’s pretty much like a new learning experience having to totally teach my leg how to move again.“But the bottom line is that I just have to deal with the pain right now. It’s painful but I don’t really have a choice; it’s either go through the pain or not be ready.”