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Ja going well at Americas Davis Cup qualifiers

Published:Tuesday | May 29, 2018 | 12:00 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Dominic Pagon

Jamaica could consolidate second place in Pool B of Group III of the Americas Davis Cup qualifiers in Escazu, Costa Rica, today if they can score a win over Antigua and Barbuda.

The Jamaican team, Rowland Phillips, Dimitri Bird, Marcus Malcolm and Duanne Miller, defeated Bermuda 3-0 in their opening game yesterday and although it has been a great 'confidence booster', team captain Dominic Pagon expects a very tough match from the Antiguans.

"It (Bermuda win) is definitely a confidence booster, especially for the guys who are fresh. Dimitri (Bird) played the number two singles spot and got his first Davis Cup win for Jamaica. Marcus Malcolm played doubles with Randy (Rowland) Phillips and that was his first match, so it was a huge confidence booster for those two," he said.

However, Pagon anticipates an even tougher game today.

 

GOOD CHANCE

 

"It is going to be a battle against Antigua and Barbuda. Their game is pretty solid and their number one player is very good. He is Jody McGinley, he plays doubles with Randy (Rowland Phillips) sometimes on tour, they know each other's game well and they are going to match up at the number one spot. But Dimitri Bird has a very good chance of winning if he plays like he played today (Tuesday). And a win would put us in a very strong position," he added.

In yesterday's game against Bermuda, Bird defeated Richard Mallory 6-3, 6-4, while Phillips beat Gavin Manders by the same score to put Jamaica 2-0 up. Malcolm and Phillips then combined in the doubles to beat Jenson Bascome and David Thomas 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 to make a clean sweep of all the games.

The result leaves Jamaica in joint second with Antigua and Barbuda with one win each, though the latter have played a game more. They both trail Bahamas with two wins from as many games.

Honduras, the other team in the group, are winless after one game, while Bermuda are winless after two matches

Jamaica play Bahamas tomorrow before closing out against Honduras on Friday.