Bermuda’s leading pickleball duo, Gavin Manders and Benjamin Jones, have put themselves on the brink of a historic double after a dominant opening day at the Pickle & Chill Christmas Classic in Kingston, Jamaica.
The pair, who arrive in Jamaica as the top-seeded doubles team, showcased their class across both singles and doubles disciplines to secure four semi-final spots between them.
In the Men’s Singles bracket, both Bermudians negotiated their early rounds with clinical efficiency. Manders, a former Davis Cup tennis standout, set the tone in the first round with a 15-1 demolition of Zachary Chin before following up with a 15-0 victory over Kyle Gregg in the second.
Jones was equally impressive, mirroring his partner's success with a 15-5 win over Simon Levy and a 15-4 defeat of Matthew Rhoden to reach the final eight.
The quarter-finals provided a stiffer test, but the Bermudian momentum remained unchecked. Manders dispatched Jachin Mullings 15-5, while Jones showed great composure to edge out local favorite Blake Shoucair 15-12 in a high-quality encounter.
The pair then combined forces in the Men’s Class A Doubles, where their status as the tournament’s top seeds earned them a first-round bye.
In their quarter-final matchup, the reigning Jamaica International Open champions demonstrated the chemistry that has made them a regional powerhouse. They secured their semi-final berth with a convincing victory over the pairing of Jacob Rousseau and Noah Ho-Tai.
The duo will return to the Pickle & Chill courts tomorrow to compete for a place in the finals, with Manders eyeing a repeat of the "Triple Crown" success he enjoyed at the Bermuda National Championships last month.
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