Barbados’ women’s tennis team made history on Saturday by advancing to Americas Group II of the Billie Jean King Cup at the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua, Trinidad & Tobago.

The Bajans first went 4-0 in Pool A preliminary round action with wins over Antigua & Barbuda (3-0), Jamaica (2-1), Bahamas (3-0) and Trinidad & Tobago (2-1) from August 5-8 before coming up against El Salvador in the promotional playoff on Saturday.

El Salvador advanced to that playoff thanks to a second-place finish in Pool B after three wins and one loss.

In the first match of Saturday’s playoff, El Salvador’s Michelle Irigoyen secured a dominant 6-0, 6-2 victory over Barbados’ Serena Bryan before Gabrielle Leslie tied proceedings at 1-1 with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Sara Valentina Cruz Bonilla.

The deciding doubles match was a fitting way to determine the victor as both teams left it all on the court.

Barbados’ Hannah Chambers and Cherise Slocombe went up against El Salvador’s Bonilla and Irigoyen.

Chambers and Slocombe took the first set 6-3 before the El Salvador pair roared back into it with a bagel (6-0) in the second set.

The teams then played out a marathon third and deciding set which Barbados eventually won 11-9 to book their spot in Americas Group II.

Costa Rica will join them in Group II after beating Jamaica 2-1 in the other playoff.