The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

HAVING gotten over the jitters of playing on his first Davis Cup team for the Bahamas, touting professional tennis player Justin Roberts is now eager to get back on the international circuit.

Roberts, the top ranked Bahamian male player, will be heading to Ecuador to play in two Men’s 25K events, starting on July 26.

“I had a few days off, but I’m back in Texas training,” Roberts told The Tribune.

Looking back at the Davis Cup experience in Panama City, Panama, at the end of June where he teamed up with Kevin Major Jr, Baker Newman and player/captain Marvin Rolle to help the Bahamas reach the playoff finals for promotion to Zone II next year, Roberts said it was more than he anticipated. “It was a blessing. I’m glad I got the experience. It was an honour to play for the country,” stated Roberts, who lost his only singles match in the final against Jamaica.

“I had a good time with Marvin, Baker, Spencer (Newman, an alternate) and KJ.

“Me and KJ were looking forward to playing together on the Davis Cup team for a long time. “Unfortunately, we lost in the finals, but we know for sure that we could do it next year. I know I’m going to work harder to try and do it again.”

By virtue of being the top ranked male singles player in the country at No. 799 on the ATP Tour, Roberts didn’t have to play in the Giorgio Baldacci National Open in December, 2019, which qualified the players.

The 2020 Davis Cup was cancelled, so the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association kept the team intact for the return of the prestigious team competitions this year.

“I haven’t played with that much nerves in a long time, but it was good,” said the 24-year-old Roberts, who starred for the University of South Florida and Arizona State University.

“It was good for me to get that experience. I think it will only make me stronger going forward. I look forward to being in this position again. Hopefully, it will be much better than it was this year.”

With Davis Cup behind him, Roberts said he returned to Texas to work a little more on his fitness. He admitted that the humid conditions had him gassed a bit, but he felt he still managed to play good tennis.

“I feel if I’m playing well, I could beat anybody out there,” said Roberts, who played his last tournament two weeks before Davis Cup in the M25 Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic where he lost in the first round. “I just have to go out there and play my best tennis and see how everything goes.”

Unfortunately, Roberts won’t be teaming up with his long-time partner Jodi Maginley from Antigua and Barbuda, who is still out with an injury. Roberts is expected to team up with a new partner in Ecuador.

He noted that because he and Major Jr are close friends, they have agreed that if they play in the same tournament, they would like to try their hands at teaming up in doubles to prepare themselves for the Davis Cup competition.

In the meantime, Roberts said his aim is to get better as he continues to play on the international circuit.