Bermuda’s top tennis players are training with Coco Gauff’s former coach in preparation for upcoming international competitions.

Daniel Phillips, Trey Mallory and Tariq Simons are refining their skills with Jhonny Berrido at The Tennis Ranch in Lake Worth Beach, Florida,

Berrido, a high-performance professional coach, has previously worked with Coco Gauff, primarily acting as a hitting partner and providing personalised training to help the American prepare for major tournaments.

Phillips and Mallory are part of Bermuda’s huge contingent for the Central American and Caribbean Games, while Simons is hoping to make the Davis Cup for the home encounters with Mexico from September 18 to 20.

Ricky Mallory, the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association’s national tennis director, spoke on the purpose of the camp.

“The purpose of this tennis training block is to prepare the players for upcoming international competitions,” Mallory told The Royal Gazette.

“It’s providing a high-performance training environment that closely replicates the physical and mental demands of tournament play.

“Training alongside other professional players exposes the athletes to a higher level of competition, allowing them to experience different playing styles, increase training intensity and develop tactical awareness by competing against opponents beyond their regular training group.

“I organised for our players to do a training block with coach Jhonny Berrido. Jhonny has worked with a number of professional players including Coco Gauff.

“Through my years as a coach I have spent time with and seen many coaches. He and I have kept in touch over the years as he first met Trey when he was 13.

“We have the utmost respect for each other as we often battle against each other in the Davis Cup, as he is also the coach of Dominican Republic Davis Cup team.”

Mallory feels that the conditions in Florida are similar to those the Bermudian players will experience in Dominican Republic and when they come home for the Davis Cup.

“The hot and humid conditions in Florida are an important component of the preparation,” he said.

“They help players acclimatise to the environmental conditions they are likely to encounter during the Caribbean Games and Davis Cup in September. Training in these conditions improves physical endurance and the ability to maintain performance under heat stress.

“The training block is designed to address every major aspect of tennis performance. Technical skills are refined through structured practice, while tactical development is emphasised through point-play scenarios and match simulations that improve decision-making, shot selection, and competitive awareness.

“Equal importance is placed on physical conditioning to enhance strength, speed, agility, endurance and injury prevention.

“Mental performance is also a key focus, the coach works with the players on developing resilience, concentration, confidence, emotional control and the ability to perform effectively under competitive pressure. These psychological skills are essential for success in high-level competition.”

Lee Terceira, another young player to receive mentorship from Berrido, won the 12 and under singles at the Emilio Sanchez Academy USTA Level 6 Tournament in Naples, Florida, against a strong international field.

The Bermuda junior player swept past Gia Dilello, from North Caldwell, New Jersey, 6-2, 6-3 in the final.

In February, the Warwick Academy student clinched the under-12 girls division at the Level 5 United States Tennis Association Miami Open.

Meanwhile, Zachary McGuire, who was part of the Davis Cup squad for the matches against Georgia, has reached the semi-finals at the fifth Annual GTP Cup J30 ITF Tournament in Oranjestad, Aruba.

McGuire won his qualifying match against Rafael Arturo Rengifo Fakih, of Colombia, in straight sets 6-3, 6-3, allowing him to advance to the main draw group stage.

In the group H stage round robin, the 18-year-old won all his matches, beating Angel David Herrera Uribe, of Colombia, 6-2, 6-1, Hanno Niemeier, of Germany 6-2, 6-4 and American Christopher Bright 7-5, 2-6, 11-9.

In the quarter-finals on Wednesday, McGuire breezed past Colombian Simon Pineda Acevedo 6-1, 6-4.

By winning matches in the main draw group stage, McGuire secured his first ITF junior points.

“It feels great to get my first ITF points,” McGuire said.

“I haven’t been able to play many tournaments but I’m very happy I’ve been able to make a good run here in Aruba.”

Next month, the young star is heading off to Sacred Heart University to play NCAA Division I tennis.