Bermuda will host a Davis Cup tie for the first time in nearly 30 years after the island’s history-making tennis team were drawn to play at home against Mexico in World Group II.

The draw, conducted by the International Tennis Federation on Thursday, gave Bermuda, who earned promotion courtesy of a 3-2 victory over Georgia, home advantage over ninth-seeds Mexico, who were beaten 3-1 by Greece in the Group I play-offs.

The matches are scheduled for September 18 to 20 at a venue to be decided by the ITF and Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association.

Bermuda last hosted the Davis Cup in April 1997 when the island was chosen as the venue for Americas groups three and four. The action took place on hard courts at Fairmont Southampton but those facilities have since been demolished

Ricky Mallory, the Bermuda captain, was a player the last time Davis Cup action took place on these shores and he welcomed the draw.

“Being drawn against Mexico in the next round of the World Group II Davis Cup is a challenge we embrace with pride,” Mallory told The Royal Gazette.

“Opportunities like this don’t come often and to have the chance to compete for our country on home soil makes it even more meaningful. There’s something powerful about knowing our supporters will be behind us. That energy can lift a team to another level.”

BLTA president Michael Wolfe expressed his excitement about the impending return of Davis Cup to the island.

“To host a nation of Mexico’s calibre is a great honour and a true testament to the heights our programme has reached,” Wolfe said

“This is a premier opportunity for Bermuda to display our tennis prowess and for our players to showcase their talent directly in front of their home nation.

“While we recognise the competition only gets tougher, facing a seeded nation with several players ranked in the world’s top 300, this is a challenge we are fully prepared to rise and face.”

According to the BLTA president, the process has begun to guarantee that the tie can take place on island.

“The work begins immediately to ensure we host an event that meets the highest international standards,” Wolfe said.

“For our tennis community, this is a homecoming like no other. It provides vital inspiration for our junior players, who will see world-class tennis on their home soil and see first-hand that a pathway to the global stage exists right here in Bermuda.

“It is a moment for immense national pride, allowing the entire island to rally behind the Pink and Blue in person. Furthermore, it brings significant global visibility, once again showcasing Bermuda as a premier destination for international sporting events.

“We look forward to welcoming Mexico to our shores and seeing our community out in full force in the stands this September.”

Mexico’s key players are world No 222 Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez and Alan Magadán, who is ranked 819th but Mallory is hopeful that he can construct the perfect training programme to cause another upset.

“From a coaching standpoint, the players have been given a week off to recover and reset physically and mentally,” he said.

“After that we return to structured preparation. Our programme between now and September will follow a plan built around focused training blocks and designed to peak at the right time.

“Beyond increasing on-court hours, each player will establish clear personal-performance goals.

“These blocks will also incorporate work with fitness specialists, emphasising tennis specific strength and conditioning, as well as guidance from nutrition experts to ensure optimal preparation.

“Our objective is to compete in various tournaments leading up to September, gaining valuable match play against a range of opponents. Every aspect of this preparation is geared towards ensuring we are fully ready to perform at our best when the tie begins.”

In preparation for the first Davis Cup action on the island in three decades, the BLTA has identified key focus areas.

“Hosting an event of this magnitude requires a significant mobilisation of resources,” the association said.

“To meet ITF standards for World Group II, the BLTA will be focusing on facility enhancements to ensure our courts and spectator facilities meet international broadcasting and play standards.

“Logistical co-ordination will involve managing everything from officiating to support staff to security for the visiting Mexican delegation.

“To create strategic partnerships we will be seeking increased support from the government, corporate sponsors and the community to ensure this event is a commercial and operational success.”