Jamaica secure tennis promotion
Published:Sunday | July 4, 2021 | 12:12 AMRobert Bailey - Sunday Gleaner Writer
President of Tennis Jamaica (TJ) John Azar has lauded the country’s national senior team for their outstanding performance after they secured promotion to Group Two of the Davis Cup competition in Panama City yesterday.
The Jamaicans defeated The Bahamas 2-0 in their Group Three contest to secure promotion for the second time in three years.
The team, which consisted of captain Dominic Pagon, Blaise Bicknell, Randy Philips, Dimitri Bird and Jacob Bicknell, finished the tournament unbeaten after securing victories over the US Virgin Islands, Panama and Puerto Rico.
Phillips gave the Jamaicans the lead with a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 victory over Kemar Major from The Bahamas. Blaise then wrapped up the tie for the Jamaicans with a come-from-behind 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Justin Roberts.
“We are elated because this is the second time in three years and as you know, we had not been promoted to Group Two in over a decade before that,” said Azar. “The guys were well prepared physically and mentally, but most importantly they executed on the day and we are certainly super proud of them.”
Azar underscored that Group Two is going to be a lot tougher and therefore his association will be doing all that it can to ensure that the players are properly prepared to compete against stronger opposition.
“Certainly this is a step up and what we are going to ensure is that the guys continue their training together as a team and we are going to place special emphasis on doubles because in these team ties, the doubles turn out to be the deciding match and we are going to work on that,” said Azar.
BIGGER, BETTER THINGS
“Obviously, we are going to keep on them in terms of their preparations, physical training and I am certain with how motivated the team is, they are not going to get complacent and we are certainly looking forward to even bigger and better things in the future,” Azar said.
Meanwhile, Blaise Bicknell said the team was delighted with the promotion and expressed gratitude to TJ for their excellent support during the tournament.
“It is incredible because this is the best feeling ever to help Jamaica to move up into Group Two,” said Blaise Bicknell.
“We could not have done it without the support of Tennis Jamaica because they sent an entire team and they put us in the best position to win and so it was incredible support from uncle John Azar and the entire team,” he said.