William Boyle’s three set battle against Sebastian Mermersky highlighted Bermuda’s showing at the 2015 Bank of Bermuda Foundation ITF Junior Circuit Tournament yesterday.

Mermersky, battling a knee injury, prevailed, winning 4-6, 6-1, and leading the final set 4-0 when Boyle retired due to injury.

Coming off a vacation and having not played in more than a week, the unranked Boyle left it all on the court in an emotional game against Mermersky, the number two seed, in the last game of the day at the WER Joell Tennis Stadium.

The 18-year-old came out as the aggressor, jumping to a 4-1 lead, keeping his higher-ranked opponent off balance with both power and placement.

“I hadn’t hit in a good stretch, but I got off to a fast start,” Boyle said. “My timing was back in the first set, I was happy.”

However, Boyle hit a snag midway through the set, struggling to keep his shot over the net, which his American opponent capitalised on to make it 4-3.

The final matches of the set were hotly contested, with both players rushing the net to make shots in front of an appreciative crowd. Boyle capped a 6-4 victory by slipping the ball down the line and past his opponent on a point-blank return from the net.

The second set was a different story, with Mermersky jumping to a 4-1 lead.

“I adjusted. I knew I had to keep him to his backhand and he would fall apart, and that’s exactly what happened,” he said.

Mermersky held over a frustrated Boyle and took the second set 6-1.

The third set was more of the same, with Mermersky showing his experience and conditioning and taking a commanding 4-0 lead before Boyle bowed out due to arm cramps.

“That was awesome,” said Boyle, of his performance against a much stronger player.

“I’m really happy with that. I wish I could make the second set a little closer, and the third set obviously I couldn’t hang [on]. I’m just out of shape and I got tired.”

Boyle’s loss capped a day where no Bermudian players made it out of the first round.

Tanner Boyle lost 6-3, 6-1 to American Zachary Garner, starting the first set out well but ultimately failing to match up with the big left-hander’s powerful serve.

The Boyle cousins will get a second shot tomorrow as they match up with Mermersky and Chase Burton in doubles.

Other results were William Way losing in straight sets to Robert Hammond, Connor Anderson losing to third seed Sid Donarski 6-1, 6-1, Luke Stirling losing to Dmitri Bird 6-2, 6-2, and Daniel Marshall falling to the more experienced Burton.

Bermuda’s only entry into the Girl’s Singles was Kaylah Ming, who lost 6-1, 6-1 to second seed Julia Goldberg.