Gavin Manders is feeling refreshed and hungry after becoming Bermuda’s most successful singles player in Davis Cup history.

Manders won his fourteenth match at this month’s America’s Zone Group Three competition in Bolivia to edge past Jenson Bascome’s record of 12 victories.

Bermuda finished a respectable seventh in a competitive nine-team group, which included Bahamas, Costa Rica, Cuba, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago and host nation Bolivia.

“I’ve always strived to be the best player I could be but never thought I could achieve this,” said Manders, the head professional at Tucker’s Point Club.

“It’s a good feeling although I feel like I have unfinished business and don’t want to get complacent. I still haven’t played my best tennis.”

Manders, who had been tied with Bascome on 12 wins since 2014, finished with a 4-3 record in singles and doubles in Bolivia, which is believed to be the best record at the group-three level for Bermuda.

His two wins came against Alejandro Javier Arrue Martiz of Panama, 6-0, 6-2, and Luke de Caries of Trinidad, 6-1, 6-0

With Bermuda spending the majority of their Davis Cup history in the now defunct group four, Manders said he felt even greater pride in his performances in South America.

“In 2013 they erased group four because a lot of Caribbean islands weren’t sending teams,” said Manders, who is ranked No 2 behind Sam Butler domestically.

“Now we’re in group three, a level we only used to play when we got promoted and the competition is really tough.

“In some ways it didn’t feel like a successful trip even though we came seventh out of nine teams.

“But you have to put that into perspective as the best we’ve ever done is sixth and that’s the level we are right now.”

Manders lost about two years of his career after a string of injuries, including a motorbike accident which led to him to losing a baby toe.

He admits he fell out of love with game until he was encouraged to start coaching by Sam Maybury, a well-respected coach on the island and former top player.

“I quit tennis for two years and that’s when Sam Maybury started coaching me by having me teach kids and that rediscovered my love for the game,” he said. “I feel like I’m 28 in tennis years and I feel like the sky is the limit for me now.”

Manders said that becoming a father to his first child, Gavin Jr, 3½ months ago has also helped reignite his passion for tennis.

“I lost about 20lb before the tournament and I’m feeling more focused and motivated, especially after the birth of my boy, Gavin Jr,” Manders said.

“He’s got his own little racket already as someone gave me a tennis ornament from a Christmas tree.

“He doesn’t have to play tennis, though. My dad [Arnold Manders, the former Bermuda cricket coach] never made me play tennis so he can do whatever sport he wants.”

Known as the “World Cup of Tennis”, the Davis Cup is played annually between teams from competing countries in a knockout format and began in 1990.

Manders has an overall singles record of 14 wins and 16 defeats, while he has six wins and 12 defeats in doubles.