Davis Cup to the Island is accepted.

Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association will likely find out in early October whether their request to host the 14-nation American Zone III event will be approved by the International Tennis Federation.

BLTA president David Lambert yesterday confirmed that ITF Davis Cup director Thomas Hallberg would arrive from Brazil, via New York, on September 22 to meet with Island tennis officials, go over budgeting and examine sites.

"That in itself shows that Bermuda is being seriously considered,'' said Lambert.

Hallberg will then report to the Davis Cup committee, which will make their decision shortly after the final 1996 tie between Brazil and Austria. Jamaica and Costa Rica are among the other nations who have approached the ITF about hosting the tournament.

The BLTA executive have already met to discuss plans and negotiations are currently underway with a large Island hotel which would act as host for the week-long tournament in April of 1997. Among the countries expected to take part are Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Jamaica and El Salvador.

Lambert would not reveal the BLTA's budget but indicated Government would probably be asked to act as a co-sponsor. More details will be available after Halburg's visit, he said.

"Bermuda itself stands to benefit, not just from good tennis but also in the number of visitors,'' said Lambert.

"This is one of the largest undertakings the BLTA has ever had. Everybody's going to have to help out.'' The Davis Cup is steeped in rich history and annually brings together all of the world's 117 tennis-playing nations. In hosting the Division Three and Four teams from the American Zone, the BLTA are hoping to provide international exposure for their players and also put the Island on the tennis map.

"If you are seriously looking at advancing your sport, you have to go on the world stage,'' said Lambert. "I feel we're ready to take another step further.'' The Davis Cup bid coincides with the arrival of the next wave of Bermuda's tennis stars and all-around improvement in play on the Island. Two years ago, Bermuda went winless in Davis Cup play; last year the team of Michael Way, James Collieson, Ricky Mallory and Steve Bean won three matches.

"Our goal is to each year get better,'' said Lambert.

The 1997 team -- as well as the women's team for the Federation Cup -- will be selected in January.

And while it's early to speculate, the play of promising juniors Daniel Miller and Jenson Bascome has caught the attention of BLTA officials. And at only 19, Collieson, who attends the University of Tennessee, is seen as the anchor of Bermuda teams for years to come.

"Absolutely,'' junior development officer Patricia Pamplin said when asked if the BLTA were eyeing Miller and Bascome as the future of Bermuda tennis.

"We're looking at replacement players for our Davis Cup team down the road and these two young players we feel are quite capable'' of representing their country.

Both are training daily under personal coaches and recently returned from a tennis camp in Hilton Head, North Carolina, where they held their own against top prospects from Austria and Poland.

Miller is a 6-foot-1 16-year-old with "power galore,'' said Pamplin. Bascome is smaller and less powerful but is "quick as a panther'' with terrific court sense and shot selection, she added.

But Lambert cautioned that the pair would have to beat out the current team members in order to earn Davis Cup selection.

DAVID LAMBERT -- `This is one of the largest undertakings the BLTA have ever had.'