Bermuda’s top female pickleball player, Imani Phillips, was eliminated at the group stage in the women’s singles at the English Open Pickleball tournament yesterday.

Playing for the first time at the event, Phillips picked up one win from her four matches. This saw her finish fourth of five in group C.

With only the top two in each group progressing to the next stage, Phillips was knocked out.

Phillips started off with a close 11-10 loss to Chantal Griffiths, followed by an 11-1 defeat by No 3 seed Domenika Turkovic, of Croatia, who topped the group and later went on to defeat American Sofia Sewing in the final to clinch gold.

It finally came together for the Bermudian in her third match, as she bested American Isabella Nelson 11-8 for her first victory.

Phillips had a tough battle against Alexa Schull in her last group encounter, which saw the American winning 11-8.

Today, Phillips takes to the courts at Telford International Centre five times for the women’s doubles 4.0 15+, where she has Lily Hallett as her playing partner in group B. A position in the top two at the end of their matches would guarantee progress to the knockout phase.

In the mixed doubles 4.5 15+ tomorrow, Phillips is combining forces with Jerry Beck, with the two playing in group A.

Phillips is one of the 2,400 players at the fifth edition of the tournament, the biggest pickleball event outside the United States.

Last month, the law graduate, who is trying to break into the professional ranks, secured sponsorship from Danté Leverock’s DaRock Elite Academy. The deal followed her exploits at the Next Generation St Louis APP, where she narrowly missed out on a medal.