Bermudian star targets deep championship run after straight-sets victory
Bermudian standout Daniel Phillips launched his singles campaign in commanding fashion for Tulane University, advancing to the third round of the 2026 Individual Tennis Championship Central.
The second seed produced a disciplined display to overcome Wichita State’s Rodrigo Cruz in straight sets, though his opening day featured mixed fortunes following a narrow first-round doubles exit alongside Alec Gaudin.
Phillips quickly stamped his authority on the singles rubber, dictating the tempo from the baseline with heavy groundstrokes to claim the opening set 6-3. Cruz mounted a stern response in a tightly contested second, but the Bermudian held his nerve in the key moments, securing a crucial late break to close out a 6-3, 7-5 victory.
Earlier in the day, Phillips and Gaudin were edged out 8-6 in an 8-game pro-set doubles encounter by Florida Atlantic pairing Jose David Segovia and Lucca Pignaton.
With his doubles commitments concluded, Phillips shifts his full focus to the singles bracket as he targets a deep championship run for the Green Wave.
