Bermuda's Davis Cup players are asking for more time to adjust to the relevant conditions before tournaments.

Saying their campaign last week in Costa Rica suffered because they had little chance of acclimatising to the differences in the South American country, both James Collieson and Jenson Bascome are calling on Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) to ensure the Island begins future Davis Cup endeavours on as equal terms as possible to their opponents.

Bermuda's players faltered not only against good opposition but altitude and wind in a losing effort to gain promotion from Americas Zone Group Four. They travelled all day on Saturday, reaching their destination around 9 p.m., and began competition on Monday by being beaten by Barbados.

"From watching all the other teams play and watching us play, I'd say we struggled with the elements that we couldn't control whereas other teams seemed to get on with it better," said Collieson, the Island's number one seed.

"I think it just caught up to us in the end. We were at altitude and the conditions were different but it was the same for everyone.

"For some reason other teams made the adjustments and we were slow to do that."

Noting that Bermuda's players were limited to one "terrible practice" in Costa Rica on the Sunday before starting the tournament, Collieson said it was clearly crucial that they began arriving at tournaments well ahead of time to get properly settled.

Bascome agreed that having to grapple with unfamiliar conditions was a problem which had to be examined.

"Even if we arrive two or three days before (a tournament) - just the opportunity to get used to the courts and the conditions, that would be great.

"There were a lot of factors that we had no control over, that if we were able to prepare for a bit more we would have been able to play better," said the number two singles player. Hopefully, that's something that happens in the future."

Despite this setback, both players conceded they hardly played at optimal level during the one-week, round-robin event in which two teams were elevated to Group Three.

"I struggled a bit mentally. The conditions were not what I like for my game. I usually adjust well but I didn't play up to my potential for most of this week. I am disappointed but I did my best under the circumstances," said Bascome.

Saying "I didn't play spectacular", Collieson noted that the guys he played from the Virgin Islands and Costa Rica seemed comfortable in the conditions and that he was "playing catch up" in those matches, both of which he lost.

The tie against Panama was the highlight of his tournament. In that encounter, he won his singles match and combined with Bascome for a winning effort in the doubles.

"That (the doubles) was one of the most exciting matches I have ever played in Davis Cup. It was quite a high level and very competitive. It came down to the wire.

"It was the highlight of the trip even though I am pretty disappointed with the overall result."

A dejected Bascome termed the experience "a tough week" in which a few points proved decisive.

"We had some close matches that could have gone either way and if we had pulled them off then we probably would have gone up.

"We played some decent guys but I felt I had my chances in the matches that I lost. Against Costa Rica, I had a couple of set points in that first set but the guy came up with some good shots. If he had missed one of them it could have been a different ball game and turned things around.

"But that's how it goes sometimes."