Ricky Mallory, Bermuda’s non-playing Davis Cup captain and coach, put a positive spin on his team’s showing thus far at the Americas Zone group three tournament in Puerto Rico.

Bermuda have managed one win and two losses in their round-robin groups, leaving their hopes of gaining promotion to group two next year dangling by a thread.

Yet rather than dwell on what might have been, Mallory chooses instead to focus on the positive strides the team has made in the Caribbean this week, such as winning a tie at this level of Davis Cup tennis for the first time, a feat that the former top player says the Island should be extremely proud of.

“I am elated with the performances of my players thus far,” Mallory said. “They have taken a professional approach to this event and have definitely performed admirably.

“The intense training that the players had been doing prior to the event has definitely had its rewards, including a first tie win against a country in group three and yesterday [Wednesday] we were so close to securing another victory against Costa Rica.

“No longer can these countries look at Bermuda as pushovers. The guys have demanded and earned respect throughout this group right from the opening day.”

Mallory said the progress that Bermuda has made at this level in the past 12 months has not gone unnoticed in Puerto Rico.

“I have had numerous players, coaches and fans from other countries and even International Tennis Federation representatives approach me to let me know how Bermuda has improved over the last year,” he added. “I know that people usually use results as the measuring tool for success in all sports. But, as a coach, you have to put things in perspective and realise how far our nation has come in the tennis world.

“We started out in 1995 in the Dominican Republic, where we played in group four without even winning a match and the following year we played in El Salvador where we won our first tie against a country in group four.

“In 1997 when Bermuda hosted Davis Cup, we actually won group four and over the years we have flip-flopped back and forth from group four to group three. But on this trip, we have solidified our position in group three and are no longer a team to be taken lightly.”

Representing Bermuda at the tournament are Gavin Manders, Jensen Bascome, Neal Towlson and David Thomas, who achieved a maiden Davis Cup singles victory in the Island’s 3-0 win against Trinidad & Tobago.

The foursome had the chance to recover from any wear and tear during yesterday’s rest day before today’s final round-robin match with Jamaica on the hard court at the Palmas Athletic Club in Humacao.

Bermuda’s hopes of reaching the play-offs are slim at best, as they must beat Jamaica and then rely on other results to go their way.