Bermuda began their Junior Davis Cup pre-qualifying campaign on the back foot in El Salvador yesterday.

The Islanders lost their opening match against highly ranked Costa Rica, winning just three games against their rivals. Dylan Powell lost the opening singles match to Diego Chavarria Borbon 6-0, 6-1 as the Costa Ricans gained the early upperhand.

“Dylan fought to the bitter end and felt encouraged because the second set was more competitive,” Steve Bean, the Bermuda coach, said.

Having fallen in early arrears, it was left to Bermuda’s Luke Attride-Stirling to try and force the best-of-three series to a third and deciding match. However, Attride-Stirling also found the going tough in a 6-0, 6-0 loss to a dominant Sebastia Quiros that secured victory for El Salvador.

“Luke tried different strategies to get into the match,” Bean said. “But his opponent had all the answers on the day.”

The Costa Ricans completed the clean sweep after Attride-Stirling and Powell lost to Borbon and Quiros in the doubles match 6-0, 6-2.

“Many of the games went to deuce,” Bean added. “But their opponents usually came up with the final shot.”

The tournament continues today, with Bermuda to face the Dominican Republic.