The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas women's national tennis team fell short in their bid to return to Group One of the Fed Cup tie over the weekend in Ecuador.

After breaking through Pool B with an impressive 3-0 win-loss record, the Bahamas suffered its first loss as top ranked Ecuador, with two world ranked players, pulled off a 2-0 sweep and clinched the qualifying berth for 2019.

With the loss, the Bahamas will remain in Group II next year.

Danielle Thompson, once again playing the first match as the No.2 seeded player on the team, lost 6-3, 6-3 to Camilia Romero of Ecuador.

Top seed Kerrie Cartwright, the only member of the Bahamas team with a WTA ranking, also lost 6-3, 6-3 to Charlotte Roemer of Ecuador.

With the tie already sealed, the Bahamas didn't have to play the doubles where Sierra Donaldson and Simone Pratt were waiting to participate.

Marvin Rolle, coach of the team, said the players gave it their best shot.

"Danielle came out strong in the first set. She had a few loose games here and there, but she came with a lot of grit and a lot of dedication and she left it all out there," he said of Thompson's opening match. "In the second set, she came out shot again. The girls (from Ecuador) played well. They are very experienced on the red clay. They moved very well. Unfortunately, we don't move as well on the clay, but we left everything on the line."

As for Cartwright's match, Rolle said she performed as anticipated.

"Both of them were grinding, both of them were giving it their all. What a match to watch," he stated of Cartwright's performance. "Even the Ecuadorians were like 'wow that was such a great match for both ladies. Both of them left everything on the line."

Rolle, coming of his success as the captain of the men's Davis Cup team that advanced to Zone II about a month ago, said despite not moving up the ladder, he was appreciative that the BLTA afforded him the opportunity to coach the ladies' team.

"We just came up a little short today, but we appreciate all the support from back home. We felt everything over here," insisted Roll, who was asked to take over the team after original player/captain Larikah Russell opted not to travel with the team.

"Hopefully next year we can come out with the win. This year we came out short, but the girls left everything out there. It was so beautiful to watch how determined and dedicated they were. They were on a mission, but hi, you can't win everything. So next year, we will come back stronger and better."

Members of the team, with the exception of Donaldson, will now head to Colombia to join the rest of the Bahamian delegation at the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games.

While Rolle will be there to coach the men's team of brothers Spencer and Baker Newman, Philip Major Jr and Kevin Major Jr, Russell will coach the women's team of Thompson, Cartwright and Pratt.