Dream breaker ends in heartbreak for the tournament’s smallest nation
Bermuda’s dream run at the 2025 Pickleball World Cup in Fort Lauderdale came to a dramatic end — and by the narrowest of margins — after a thrilling dream breaker loss to South Africa.
As the smallest nation among the 64 competing countries, Bermuda’s Open Elite Team made waves throughout the group stage, dominating their pool without dropping a single match. Along the way, Bermuda notched impressive wins over much larger nations — Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Bosnia — to finish top of their group and enter the knockout rounds as the number one seed.
Drawn against 32nd-seeded South Africa in the round of 32, Team Bermuda looked ready to continue their winning streak. Gavin Manders and Benjamin Jones took the men’s doubles, while Patricia Mills and Imani Phillips claimed the women’s doubles, giving Bermuda a commanding 2–0 lead.
But South Africa rallied, taking both mixed doubles matches to draw level and then edging ahead 3–2 after winning the women’s singles. With elimination looming, Manders stepped up again in the men’s singles, keeping Bermuda’s hopes alive and forcing a decisive dream breaker.
In a nail-biting finish, South Africa narrowly prevailed 21–18, ending Bermuda’s remarkable run and advancing to the round of 16.
