Bermuda’s Under-14 squad recorded their first victory at the International Tennis Federation World Junior Tennis tournament in El Salvador after edging Curaçao 2-1 in the best-of-three tie yesterday.

After going down against eighth-seeds Nicaragua and second seeds-Bahamas in their opening two group B ties, Bermuda finally got it right against a Curaçao team that put up a good fight.

Bermuda were forced to chase the tie after No 2 player Nicholas Cooper lost a tough battle with Gianluca Beaujon 6-3, 6-4 in the opening singles match at the Federación Salvadorena de Tenis.

The match was Cooper’s first playing for Bermuda.

However, Bermuda evened the tie at 1-1 after the island’s No 1 player Ricky Mallory Jr overcame a 0-3 deficit in the first set to win the remaining singles match against Quintan Van Wyk 6-3, 6-2 to set up a winner-takes-all in the deciding doubles match.

Mallory then teamed up with Benjamin Jones to beat Noah Martis and Beaujon 6-3, 6-4 in the deciding doubles match to seal Bermuda’s hard fought come-from-behind victory.

Gavin Manders, the Bermuda coach, hailed the team’s gutsy performance.

“Today was a great example of a team effort,” he said. “The boys rallied together to bring home victory on day three.”

Bermuda went into the tie with their backs against the wall after losing their first two group matches, which were also decided by the doubles match.

“It was a must win fo rus and Trey [Mallory] shwed great composure under pressure to tie it up for us after Nicholas went down in his first international match for Bermuda.

“Benjamin and Trey [Mallory] then went on to put together their best doubles performances so far to win the tie.”

Bermuda are back in action today against Barbados on the hard surface at the Federación Salvadorena de Tenis.