Bermuda’s tough run at the Billie Jean King Cup Americas Group III tournament continued in Santa Tecla, El Salvador, as a clinical Costa Rica side wrapped up a commanding 3-0 victory.
Following an agonizing 2-1 defeat to Jamaica, the Bermudian squad found themselves entirely outmatched by a ruthless Central American outfit that dominated across both the singles and doubles rubbers.
Costa Rica clicked into gear immediately in the opening singles clash. Allison Blanco set the tone for the tie, overcoming Bermuda’s player-captain Shelby Madeiros 6-2, 6-1 in just over an hour. Any hopes of a Bermudian fightback were then swiftly dashed when Lucia Gallegos power-played her way to a devastating 43-minute, 6-0, 6-1 victory over Nadhira Durham.
With the tie already mathematically settled, Costa Rica refused to take their foot off the gas. Madeiros teamed up with Alexcie Burrows for the doubles rubber, but the duo had no answers for Blanco and Ariana Rahmanparast, falling 6-1, 6-0 in 47 minutes to complete the clean sweep.
