The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

With the Bahamas back in the American Zone II, the interest has increased for the men’s Davis Cup team, but brothers Baker and Spencer Newman, along with teammates Kevin Major Jr and captain Marvin Rolle, have served noticed that they intend to retain their spots.

During the first day of competition in the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s Giorgio Baldacci Open National Challenge yesterday at the National Tennis Centre, the quartet were all successful in winning their opening matches and were joined by a number of challengers, including Philip Major Jr, Justin Lunn and collegian Joshua Turnquest.

Baker Newman, the defending champion, made it look so easy as he blanked Jody Turnquest 6-0, 6-0. “It was fun,” said Newman about his return to the tournament. “I’m here to defend the title. So I didn’t want to let up at all. I will compete for every point. I don’t disrespect anybody, but if they want it, they are going to have to come for it because I’m not just going to give it up.”

The 21-year-old junior at Vanderbilt said he’s coming off a great semester and he’s looking forward to an even greater season in 2017.

His 23-year-old brother Spencer Newman didn’t waste too much time on the court either as he duplicated the 6-0, 6-0 score.

“I came out and got a quick start on him and I just kind of rode on that,” said Newman, who spent a lot of time training both in the morning and night to stay fit. “I made it tough for him and that is what I want to do in the tournament, just leave it all on the court. I’m coming for it.”

As a captain of the team, Marvin Rolle said since they got promoted from zone III to II, the interest has increased and it showed in the number of entries in the tournament.

But like all the other players, Rolle said his main objective is to secure his spot on the team. He made a strong case by winning his first two matches, the first 6-2, 6-2 over William ‘JJ’ Fountain and the second 6-0, 6-0 over Perry Newton Jr. “The guys (Newton) started playing tennis pretty late, but he enjoys it and that’s the main thing,” Rolle said. “But I know that as the tournament progresses, I will get to face some tougher opponents. We have a good turnout. We’re in zone II and I guess a lot of players want to play. It’s good for the Bahamas. So it’s not going to be easy making the team this year.”

Kevin Major Jr called it “pretty routine” after he won 6-2, 6-0 over Robert Smith.

“Tomorrow (today) is going to be more tricky because I’m going to play Joshua Turnquest, who is just coming back from school, along with O’Neil Mortimer, who are two good players,” Major Jr said. “My performance today (yesterday)m was good. I didn’t do anything special. It was just a routine day for me.”

For Major Jr, there’s still a lot more tennis to go and he wants to ensure that he’s right in the thick of things.

“My expectations is to win the whole tournament, so we will see how it goes,” said Major Jr about the rest of the competition.

Having been on the Davis Cup team before, 20-year-old Philip Major Jr is looking forward to getting back in the limelight. He started the quest by winning 6-0, 6-0 over Ceron Rolle.

“It was good, not too stressful. I’m playing at a really high level and so I expected to come out with a dominant win,” said Major Jr, who is at a tennis academy in North Carolina. “I just did what I had to do and I came out the way that I should have. It’s always a pleasure to represent my country, so it’s a honor for me to be here to try and represent my country again.”

Turnquest, 17, seemed to be one of the dark horses in the tournament. He had two victories, the first over O’Neal Mortimer, 6-4, 6-1, and the other over Robert Smith, 6-1, 6-2.

“In the beginning I was a little nervous because I haven’t played home in awhile, so the expectations was high,” said Turnquest, now in his freshman year at Asbury University in Kentucky. “I was able to settle down and ended up playing some real good tennis in the end. This is something that I always wanted to do, wearing the Bahamian colors on a bigger stage, so I’m hoping that I can make the team this year.”

Before he lost to Baker Newman, Jody Turnquest pulled of a6-0, 6-0 win over Michael Butler.

“The first one very well. I liked my performance. The guy (Butler) was playing really good, but for me, it’s a good time for me to come back after playing in Barcelona, Spain to show what I’ve been doing when I traveled with Justin Lunn. So I know it’s going to be tough, but I’m ready.”

Lunn won his first match 6-1, 6-4 over Donte Armbrister.

The tournament will continue today at 9 am. The top two players in each pool will advance to the playoffs on Wednesday and Thursday to determine who will qualify to compete in the final on Friday.

Here’s a look at day one of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s annual Giorgio Baldacci Open National Challenge on Monday at the National Tennis Center.

Davis Cup

Marvin Rolle def. William Fountain 6-2, 6-2; Joshua Turnquest def. O’Neil Mortimer 6-4, 6-1; Justin Lunn def. Donte Armbrister 6-1, 6-4; Dylan Walker def. Anthony Burrows6-1,, 6-0; Archie Burrows def. Perry Newton Jr 6-1, 6-0; Calum Moodie def. Kyle Rolle 6-3, 1-6, 10-8; Trenton Smith def. Rodney Careey W/O; Kevin Major Jr def. Ceron Rolle 6-0, 6-0; Rody Turnquest def. Michael Butler 6-0, 6-0; Michael Cooper def. Wayne Russll W/O; Jack Kelly def. Lee Sweeting 6-0; 6-0; Ceron Rolle deef, Kyle Rolle 6-0; 6-1; Marvin Rolle def. Prry Newton Jr. 6-0, 6-0; Joshua Turnquest def. Robert Smith 6-1, 6-2; Donte Armbrister def. Lee Sweeting W/O; Baker Newman def. Jody Turnquest 6-0, 6-0; Trenton Smith def. Anthony Burrows 6-0, 6-1 and Spencer Newman def. Michael Cooper 6-0, 6-0.

Fed Cup results

Eana Mackey def. Afrika Smith 6-2, 6-1; Iesha Shepherd def. Sydni Kerr 6-2, 6-0; Iesha Shepherd def. Sierra Donaldson 6-4, 6-0; Elana Mackey def. Gabriela Donaldson 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5) and Sydney Clarke def. Afrika Smith 6-1, 6-4.