Daniel Phillips achieved another milestone in his quest to become a professional tennis player in Manacor, Majorca, at the weekend.

The promising youngster’s ambitious bid gathered further momentum after he won a maiden title in Europe.

Phillips was crowned the champion in the under-12 boys’ division at the II Torneo FIBWI tournament after his opponent, Uve Diewl, retired in the second set.

The Bermudian won the opening set 6-3 and was leading 2-1 in the second when Diewl was forced to retire because of a blistered hand.

“I was playing good,” Phillips said. “The first set was tough, but I knew after I won the first set that I could win the match.

“My first serve was a bit off, but my forehand was sharp and deep and my backhand cross court was working.”

En route to the final Phillips beat Miquel Peset in the first round 6-4, 6-2 and Miquel Caldenty 6-0, 6-2 in the second to reach the quarter-finals.

Phillips defeated Pau Roca Bonnnin in the quarter-finals 6-0, 6-0 and then prevailed 7-5, 6-2 over Niklas Hoffmann in the semi-final to advance to the championship match.

He also impressed in the boys’ under-14 division where he reached the quarter-finals before losing 3-6, 0-6 to Matia Ponce.

Phillips has made steady strides since enrolling at the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy in Majorca in September last year.

“Daniel is more focused in the training and paying more attention, talking to himself in matches and should talk to himself more when things are not going the way he likes,” said Phillips’s academy coach, Tomas Prieto.

“He is playing much better and understanding a bit more of the game.

“As he plays more competitions he will get better. There is no magic stick.”

Phillips was able to enrol in the academy’s annual programme thanks to a series of fundraisers and a $5,000 donation from the Bermuda Marathon Derby organising committee.

Nadal, the 14-times grand slam champion and world No 6, officially opened the Rafa Nadal Academy in his home town of Manacor in June last year.

The Academy combines tennis and education. It is equipped with the latest technology, including supervised residency exclusively for students, an American International School for children aged ten to 18 years of age, as well as 26 indoor and outdoor courts.