The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

JUSTIN Lunn, looking to make his first Davis Cup team, pulled off a pair of victories yesterday as the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s round robin segment of the Giorgio Baldacci Open Nationals Challenge came to a close.

Lunn, 25, now prepares for the start of the single elimination playoffs today at the National Tennis Centre as he joins Jack Kelly, the second place finisher at 2-1, in a field of 14 players vying for spots on the Davis Cup team that will play against Venezuela in February.

Tournament defending champion Baker Newman (3-0) and Jody Turnquest (2-1) have advanced out of pool A, while runner-up Spencer Newman (2-0) and Michael Cooper (1-1) advanced out of pool B.

There were four other pools with the following players earning their berths in the playoffs scheduled to begin 9am today and continue on Thursday before the final is contested on Friday.

Philip Major Jr (3-0) and Ceron Rolle (2-1) advanced out of pool C; newcomer Trenton Smith (3-0) and Dylan Walker (2-1) are in from pool D; Davis Cupper Kevin Major Jr (3-0) and Joshua Turnquest (2-1) made it out of pool E and Davis Cup captain Marvin Rolle (3-0) and William ‘JJ’ Fountain (2-1) emerged out of pool F.

Coming of a 6-1, 6-4 win over Donte Armbrister on Monday, Lunn beat both Jack Kelly 6-1, 6-2 and Lee Sweeting 6-0, 6-0 on Tuesday.

“I feel really good. I’m playing really solid, doing what I have to do,” said Lunn after his win over Sweeting. “I’m just trying to make this happen because I want to make the Davis Cup team. This would be my first time, so hopefully I can do it and help make the Bahamas proud. I’ve been working very hard for this opportunity.”

Home after spending about two months in Barcelona, Spain with Jody Turnquest training, Lunn said everything is coming together for him.

“I’m actually very excited to start playing against the higher ranked players starting tomorrow (today),” he said. “Everybody is playing good, so I have to be mentally tough. I just want to go out there and give it my all and see if I can maker this team.”

In other men’s games of note, Baker Newman blanked Michael Butler 6-0, 6-0; Marvin Rolle followed suit with his victory over Archie Burrows and Philip Major Jr was just as impressive in both matches weith identical 6-0, 6-0 decisions overt Calcum Moodie and Kyle Rolle.

Kevin Major Jr also pulled of a double header, winning 6-4, 2-6, 10-6 over Joshua Turnquest in what turned out to be the match of the day before he knocked of Oneal Mortimer 6-0, 6-1.

BLTA president Elwood Donaldson said he’s been quite pleased with the level of competition exhibited by the men so far.

“All of the former Davis Cup team members are here along with some of our other top layers like Philip Major, Jody Turnquest and former junior player Joshua Turnquest. So it’s going pretty good.”

Donaldson said they had anticipated the return of Devin Mullings, but he couldn’t make it anymore because of his coaching obligation, while Rodney Carey Jr is injured.

“But even though we didn’t have them, I’m still pleased with the way the competition has gone,” Donaldson said. “We still have some very good players and as high level of tennis being played here this week.”

The single elimination playoffs will now get started at 9 am today and continue on Thursday. The final is set for Friday. After that, the BLTA will select the team for the Davis Cup tie in February against Venezuela in the first round of the American Zone II.

The team of Baker and Spencer Newman, Kevin Major Jr and player/captain Marvin Rolle pulled the Bahamas out of Zone III last year in La Paz, Bolivia.