The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association men’s national team won their opening match of the American Zone III Davis Cup tie at the National Tennis Club in La Paz, Bolivia.

Brothers Baker and Spencer Newman split their single matches before Baker Newman teamed up with player/captain Marvin Rolle to clinch the pivotal doubles to secure a 2-1 win over Honduras yesterday.

“That it was a good first match despite the loss in the first match,” Rolle summed up. “Spencer was a little tight in his first Davis Cup match and is expected to improve going forth. 

“Baker played well in his first match. The hope is that the team will do well against Costa Rica tomorrow.” 

In the opening singles, Spencer Newman dropped a 6-2, 6-3 decision to Keny Turcios in a match that lasted one hour and 25 minutes.

Newman had seven double faults and was just 23 of 53 on his first serves for a 43 percentage. He was 11-of-23 for 47 per cent on his first serve points won and was 2-of-5 in break points won.

“Nerves got to me a little bit but I am feeling better and I have a different mindset and tomorrow should be a lot better,” said Spencer Newman after his loss.

Baker Newman came back and spent just about 1:05 on the court as he disposed of Alejando Obando 6-2, 6-3. Newman had six double faults, but he was 22-of-43 on his first serves for a 51 per cent and was 18-for-232 on first serve points won. He was also 5-for-8 on break points won.

“Everything went well. We were able to get it done as a team,” Baker Newman said. “When I saw we were down 0-1 I knew I had to get it done and I went to work and took my opponent down in straight sets.”

In the pivotal doubles, Rolle and Baker Newman needed just 59 minutes to dispose of Ricardo Pineda and Keny Turcious 6-3, 6-0. Both teams had six double faults but the Bahamas completed 57 per cent of their first serve and won 89 per cent of their first serve points. They also were 4-of-6 for 66 per cent on their break points. “Marvin and I took it in doubles and I am happy about the team win,” Baker Newman said.

Although he didn’t play, Kevin Major, the other member of the team, indicated that he was pleased with the way Tam Bahamas performed.

“Honduras is always a tricky team to play, they fight to the end,” Major said. “But we (the Bahamas) fought a little harder and overall today was a pretty good day.”

Team Bahamas, which was in Bolivia for the past week getting acclimatised, will be back in action today against Costa Rica in the two-pool round robin format.

The winner of Pool A will play-off against the runner-up of Pool B and the winner of Pool B will play-off against the runner-up of Pool A to determine which two nations will advance to Americas Zone Group II in 2017.