The Cayman Islands tennis team served up a historic performance at the Orkney 2025 Island Games, clinching the most medals in the sport that the country has ever achieved at the event.
A remarkable eight medals were earned in the tennis portion of the competition, referred to as satellite games, held in the Isle of Man from 21-27 June.
Abi Anderson and Lauren Fullerton demonstrated their strength in the women’s team event, earning a bronze medal.
Anderson also secured a silver in the women’s singles, while Fullerton added another individual medal with a bronze in the same category.
Walking away with a silver in the men’s singles was Franco Esterhuizen.
In the women’s doubles, the pairing of Manon Hillenbrand and Dianne Habuyo clinched silver, with Anderson and Fullerton earning bronze.
The men’s doubles saw Esterhuizen and Ricardo Solon secure a silver medal.
Rounding out the impressive medal tally, Anderson and Solon won bronze in the mixed doubles.
Elaine Anderson, president of the Cayman Tennis Federation, expressed immense pride and thrill at the team’s achievement.
“Never has Cayman won so many tennis medals at an Island Games,” she told the Compass, highlighting the significance of the singles medals, which haven’t been earned in over a decade. She lauded the “great performances” of Abi Anderson, Fullerton and Esterhuizen.
Elaine Anderson further elaborated on the profound impact of this success, explaining that winning eight medals is a significant accomplishment that builds upon the momentum established at the Guernsey Island Games two years prior, where Abi Anderson and Solon secured a bronze in mixed doubles.
This year’s results, she noted, demonstrate the growing depth and experience within the player pool.
Despite the tennis competition being held separately in the Isle of Man due to facility limitations in Orkney, Elaine Anderson said the host island delivered a great tournament.
The Cayman players notably adapted to challenging weather conditions and an unfamiliar artificial clay court surface, highlighting their resilience and skill.
Comparing this year’s performance to previous Island Games, Elaine Anderson asserted that it is “by far the strongest performance Cayman has had”.
This landmark achievement is precisely what Cayman tennis needs, she said, as the island aims to re-enter international competitions like the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup, and to strengthen relationships with other Caribbean federations, such as Jamaica, Bahamas, Barbados and Trinidad.
Elaine Anderson credited the athletes’ “hard work and preparation” along with invaluable support from sponsors this year for their success at the games.
The federation hopes to leverage this momentum to develop the sport across all levels with emphasis on the importance of grassroots to elite programmes.
The elite training group is set to resume bi-weekly practices in August, continuing to build towards the next Island Games and various representation opportunities in the interim.
