The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER watching the ladies’ team finish in third place at the Billie Jean King Cup over the weekend, Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association president Perry Newton is eager to see what the men’s Davis Cup team will do this week.

Newton, who headed a small Bahamian delegation in Panama City, Panama, for the women’s competition, will be there this week as the men’s competition in America Zone III begins on Wednesday. “Everyone is in Panama. They are just waiting to get their COVID-19 results back before they can get on the court and practice,” said Newton of the same process that the ladies’ team had to go through.

The Davis Cup team, captained by veteran Marvin Rolle, will consist of first timer Justin Roberts along with Kevin Major Jr and Baker Newman, who both represented the Bahamas in the competition before.

“I am just a nervous wreck having the guys here and trying to settle in,” Newton said.

“But they seem to be excited and anxious to get this competition started.”

Having watched as the ladies’ team went through a very vigorous level of competition, Newton said he anticipates that it will be equally as competitive for the men. “Men and women tennis are so much different. The athleticism is at a different level,” Newton said. “Unlike the ladies’ team, which was playing for one spot to advance, the men are playing for two spots to advance to Group II next year.”

The list of countries participating are the Bahamas, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago and the US Virgin Islands. Antigua and Barbuda and St Lucia both withdrew.

The teams will be divided into two pools of four and one with three. Nations finishing top of their group, as well as the best second-placed nation, will play-off for promotion to the World Group II Play-offs in 2022.

The best second placed nation will be determined the following way (in the order set out below):

• The nation with the greatest number of points

• The nation with the highest percentage of matches won to total matches played.

• The nation with the highest percentage of sets won to total sets played.

• The nation with the highest percentage of games won to total games played.

For the two nations competing in the groups of four (Groups B & C), the results of the ties against the team that finishes in fourth place in those groups will not be included in the above calculations.

With all members of the team now in Panama, Rolle said they are just waiting on their COVID-19 results.

“The guys seem like they are ready. Justin is here for the first time, KJ is pimped and ready, Baker is looking good and I’m here too, so we’re all ready and confident and hope that we do well.”

With the players self motivated because they are playing Davis Cup for the Bahamas, Rolle said he anticipates that they will all give it their best shot for the country. “These guys are always ready for the competition,” Rolle said. “But with younger players coming for their countries, I think it would be challenging. But our guys are on the right path and we have some young guys. These guys are coming up and playing strong. So it would be a good competition. Whoever we play, we will give them some competition. So I expect the guys to perform very well.”