crashing to a 3-0 defeat against a strong Costa Rica side.

Zarah DeSilva and Tara Lambert both lost their singles rubbers before the same two players teamed up for the doubles in what turned out to be a baptism of fire for the team at the Carlisle Bay Club in Antigua.

Bermuda will take on Panama today and Antigua tomorrow in round-robin group play before playing off for position on Friday and Saturday.

Number two Lambert was first on court and fell to a 6-0, 6-0 defeat by Melissa Mendieta.

Number one DeSilva was involved in a closer match, but still suffered a straight-sets defeat, 6-4, 6-2 at the hands of Costa Rican number one Erica Morsink.

Lambert and DeSilva just missed out on taking a tight first set in the doubles before eventually losing 6-4, 6-1 to Morsink and Julia Valverde.

Kelly Holland, Bermuda's non-playing captain, explained her reasons for sending out Lambert and DeSilva again, rather than using the two debutantes in the team, Shonette Wilson and 14-year-old Sasha Fisher.

"I decided to put Tara and Zarah out there again, because I thought we might be able to nick a win and every win counts at the end of the round-robin play,'' said Holland. "But we will get Sasha and Shonette on court at some stage this week.'' Holland felt the team had got their toughest fixture out of the way first against a Costa Rican team who had been a thorn in Bermuda's side many times in the past.

"I really do think that was the hardest match we will play,'' said the captain. "And it's a good thing. It helps everybody get their problems out of the way on the first day.

"We have played Costa Rica five times in six Fed Cups and we have only ever managed one doubles victory against them. We've had some close singles matches over the years but they have always managed to win in the end.'' Holland added that neither Lambert nor DeSilva had settled into playing their best tennis.

"They both tried their hardest, but it was just a shame they couldn't stay in the points longer,'' said Holland.

"That will be the main key for us to improve, to get into longer rallies.

"Tara's opponent was a very tough player, who goes to the University of Oklahoma. Zarah played her last year and lost 7-6 in the third set.

"Zarah did not really get into her rhythm and her opponent Erica was very solid and did not make many mistakes.'' The team will go into today's clash with Panama, who yesterday beat hosts Antigua 2-1, with higher hopes of a good result.

Panama were one of the two countries Bermuda defeated in El Salvador last year in the Island's best-ever Fed Cup performance.

Danielle Paynter was instrumental in that victory, but was unavailable for this year because of a clash with her exams at York University in Canada.

"We beat them (Panama) last year and I think we will be involved in some good matches against them,'' said Holland.

"I think everybody's spirits are still high. We may have lost our first match, but nobody's hanging their head and they are looking forward to the next match.'' Holland praised the 12-court, hard-court complex playing host to the 15-nation Americas Group II tournament and said the team had enjoyed two good days of practice following their arrival on Saturday night.

Like Bermuda's men in the Davis Cup earlier this year, the Fed Cup girls are playing with a ball six percent larger than conventional size.

Holland said: "They don't seem to have a problem with the bigger ball. You just have to use your arms a bit more to get pace on it.'' Tough start: Bermuda number two Tara Lambert lost the first singles rubber in the 3-0 Fed Cup defeat against Costa Rica.