The race for promotion is heating up as four Caribbean and Latin American nations—Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, and Bolivia—gear up for decisive battles at the Americas Group III Davis Cup qualifiers in Costa Rica.
Jamaica will lock horns with a red-hot Puerto Rico side, while Bermuda face off against Bolivia on Friday, with all four teams just one win away from booking coveted spots in Group II for the 2026 season. All four teams have produced gripping performances so far at the Costa Rica Country Club in San José, and the decisive top-of-the-pool clashes are expected to serve up more entertainment.
The top team from each pool advances directly to Group II, while a final promotion spot will be decided in a playoff between the two second-placed teams. Meanwhile, the teams that finish at the bottom of each pool face relegation to Group IV.
Puerto Rico's Yannik Alvarez.
Jamaica maintained a perfect record in Pool B, as they secured back-to-back 2-1 victories over Honduras and Venezuela. They were made to work for their triumph against Venezuela, as John Chin rallied from a set down to outlast Oscar Freitas 4-6, 6-0, 6-1, before Blaise Bicknell followed suit, as he edged Ignacio Parisca 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-4 to seal the tie. Though Jamaica dropped the doubles encounter, they had already done enough to clinch a top spot battle against Puerto Rico.
Equally impressive were group leaders Puerto Rico, who also boast an unbeaten record. They dispatched Venezuela 2-1 and overwhelmed Honduras 3-0 to top Pool B. At the center of their success is 16-year-old Yannik Alvarez, who dazzled on his Davis Cup debut with a ruthless 6-1, 6-0 demolition of Alejandro Obando.
"I felt incredible to make my debut. I was a little nervous at first, but I started to relax and enjoy myself on the court. It’s a great honour to represent Puerto Rico, and I hope we can advance to Group II," Alvarez said.
Bolivia's Juan Carlos Prado Angelo. (Photos: Jose Campos/PME Images)
Marko Mesarovic added a dominant 6-2, 6-1 win over Guillermo Alfonso Bennaton, and the doubles team of Gabriel Evans and Luca-Julian Hotze closed out the 3-0 sweep, downing Mario Richmagui and Keny Turcios 6-4, 6-2.
In Pool A, Bolivia and Bermuda both handled their business to ensure a battle for the top spot. Bolivia produced commanding 3-0 wins over host Costa Rica and Aruba as they stamped their authority as the team to beat. Meanwhile, Bermuda edged out both Costa Rica and Aruba 2-1, with crucial wins in the doubles matches to progress.