Bermuda’s hopes of gaining promotion to the Davis Cup Americas Zone Group II are all but over after yesterday’s 3-0 defeat by Costa Rica at the Palmas Athletic Club in Humacao, Puerto Rico.

The heavy loss was Bermuda’s second in three matches and they must now win their final group B match with Jamaica and rely on other results to go their way if they are to secure one of only two play-off spots available.

Gavin Manders’s 6-3, 6-1 loss to Ignanci Rica Balmaceda in the opening singles contest set the tone for a disappointing day for the local contingent.

Manders took the loss hard. “It was a disappointing day, to say the least,” he said. “I found it hard to find my rhythm with Roca’s power off both sides, but at the end of the day I failed to step up to the plate to get the victory we needed to set the mood for the start of the day.”

Costa Rica clinched the best-of-three series after David Thomas, playing in the No?1 slot, went down 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a hard-fought match with Pablo Nuñez in the remaining singles match.

Thomas came from behind to win the opening set and broke his rival’s serve several times but was unable to find that extra gear needed to propel him to a second win of the tournament.

“I knew the task at hand being down 1-0,” Thomas said. “I got off to what I thought was a good start but my opponent picked up his game and it turned into a battle.

“I caught a second wind in the third set and did everything in my power to bring it home. But my opponent played well and I just could not pull it out in the end.”

Costa Rica completed the clean sweep after Jensen Bascome, Bermuda’s most experienced Davis Cup player, and Neal Towlson lost to Alvaro Riveris Quintero and Julian Saborio Madrigal 0-6, 7-6, 6-2 in the doubles match.

Bermuda, who are being led in the Caribbean by Ricky Mallory, the non-playing captain and coach, face Jamaica tomorrow.