The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT wasn’t the kind of finish he anticipated, but top seeded player Justin Roberts said he was quite pleased with his debut for the Bahamas on the men’s Davis Cup team.

In the playoffs to determine the top two teams to advance to the American Zone II for 2022, Roberts and the Bahamas fell short on Saturday to Jamaica, losing 2-0 on the final day of competition in Panama City, Panama.

Roberts, the Bahamas’ top ranked International Tennis Federation player, suffered a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 defeat at the hands of Jamaica’s top ranked player Blaise Bicknell in what was arguably the match of the day, lasting two hours and 15 minutes.

And Kevin Major Jr, playing the number two spot on Team Bahamas, went down 6-3, 6-2 to Jamaica’s No.2 seed Rowland Phillips in 1hr and 22mins in the first match of the day.

With the tie decided after Roberts’ match, the doubles was not played.

“This was my first time playing in the Davis Cup tie, so there were a lot of emotions, a lot of new feelings,” Roberts said. “I think I will be better prepared to deal with it next year. But there were some tough matches today. We fought hard. It was a disappointing loss. I was up in the second and third sets after winning the first, but I just didn’t pull it off. Congrats to Jamaica. But we will come back stronger next time.”

Player/captain Marvin Rolle, who was preparing to play in the doubles if the tie was extended, said he was proud of the team’s performance, especially Roberts, who gave a good account of himself throughout the tournament.

“This was his first time playing in the Davis Cup but he performed very well. I think we can expect some great things from him in the future,” Rolle said. “KJ also played great. Jamaica was just better than us today and they won.”

Rolle also congratulated brothers Baker and Spencer Newman. Although only Baker played doubles with him, Rolle said Spencer provided a lot of support to the team.

Also in Panama supporting the team was Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association president Perry Newton, who had nothing but high marks for the entire team. He said it was a delight to watch Roberts make his Davis Cup debut and to see the return of Major Jr as they carried the team on their backs in the singles matches.

While Jamaica beat the Bahamas, they were joined by Guatemala, who pulled off their win over Costa Rica to advance to Group II next year with their victories.

The Bahamas and Costa Rica will remain in Group III next year along with Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Cuba, Honduras, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago.

The results for the Bahamas men were similar to the women in the Billie Jean King Cup the week before where the team of captain Kerrie Cartwright and collegians Sydney Clarke, Elana Mackey and Sierra Donaldson fell short in the playoffs and of advancing to Group one next year.

Both the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup returned to the international stage this year after last year’s events were called off due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.