The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BAKER Newman was so upset that their final match was suspended that he wanted to complete the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s annual Giorgio Baldacci National Open Challenge at Old Forte Bay.

So instead of coming back on Saturday at the National Tennis Centre, Baker Newman went on to successfully defend his men’s title Friday night when he came from behind for a gruelling three-set victory 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in a match estimated to last four hours and 20 minutes combined at the two venues.

Spencer Newman, the No.2 seed and runner up, took the first set 6-4, but Baker Newman rebounded to hold serve at 2-2 in the second set when chair umpire Bradley Bain halted play.

Apparently, when the lights came on, they were not adequate for both players to continue playing. Although all of the lights came on, some were twisted away from the court following Hurricane Matthew and did not provide the necessary lighting required, so the players opted not to continue under the conditions.

“This was one of the harder matches I have played in a while,” he said. “I was two points away from losing and the pressure was real. 

“Defending the title was one thing, but having to do it against my older brother again was another thing. That was difficult to overcome.”

Although he came out the victor, Baker Newman gave his older brother Spencer Newman a lot of credit for pushing him to the limit.

“I am very proud of my brother for the way he played,” he said. “It was great to see his level reach that high. It just makes me that much more excited for the tie that’s going to take place in February.”

Baker Newman, however, admitted that the change in venue made a big difference.

“The venue change was some serious adversity. Playing under the lights was challenging for both of us,” he said. “I really just wanted to complete the match. Coming back the next day and trying to finish the match was difficult to do.”

With the tournament complete, the Newman brothers will be joined by Kevin ‘KJ’ Major Jr and Marvin Rolle, who will form the team that will represent the Bahamas at the American Zone II Davis Cup against in February against Venezuela.

“I am very happy to have one the tournament again. But that is the last of my concerns,” Baker Newman said. “I am set out to take down Venezuela alongside my older brother, KJ, and Marvin. I hope to see everyone come down and support.”

The quartet teamed up to pull the Bahamas out of the American Zone III last year in Bolivia. The first round American Zone II tie is now considered to be played in Florida instead of Venezuela.

Rolle and Major Jr. were scheduled to play for third place. But after suffering a slight back injury during his hectic semifinal showdown against Baker Newman on Thursday, 21-year-old Major Jr. was unable to play.

Rolle, 33, was eventually awarded third place. The player/captain, who specialized in doubles during the last Davis Cup tie, lost out to Spencer Newman in the other semifinal on Thursday.

The BLTA attracted one of the biggest fields of players since the inception of the tournament, but after the two rounds of preliminaries and playoffs, the Newman brothers, Major Jr and Rolle emerged as the cream of the crop for the second consecutive year.

The tournament provided an opportunity for the BLTA to showcase the top professional and collegiate players at the same time as thy hosted the national team trials.

For the past two years have been renamed the Giorgio Baldacci National Open Challenge in honor of the late coach, administrator and benefactor of the junior program and the national teams, who died on November 10. 2012.