Confident Phillips says Jamaica can beat Greece in Davis Cup
Published:Friday | January 7, 2022 | 12:10 AM
With his eyes firmly fixed on leading Jamaica past hosts Greece in their massive Group Two Davis Cup tie in March, the country’s number two ranked tennis player, Rowland ‘Randy’ Phillips, says he has been working arduously to ensure that he is physically and mentally ready for the clash.
Phillips, who is ranked behind the country’s number one player Blaise Bicknell, says he is confident that the Jamaican team can get past Greece in the tie.
The winners of the tie will advance to a Group Two play-offs in November from which the top team will advance to Group One.
“I am extremely excited because I think it is a really good opportunity for us to play against Greece because they are a very good team but we are also a good team and we will be all ready for this showdown,” said Phillips.
“We have never been in Group One before and so this is a massive opportunity for all of us to create some history. I think that this current team is very strong and it will do a lot for Jamaica’s tennis just to have us competing at that level,” he said.
Dimitri Bird, captain Dominic Pagon, Phillips and Bicknell were the players who secured promotion to Group Two last year.
Phillips and Blaise are automatic selections for the March tie, Tennis Jamaica will select the other members of the team.
Phillips pointed out that he has been following the progress of the Greek players and therefore he is aware of their strengths and weaknesses.
“This Greek team is pretty good because their number one player, Stefanos Tsitsipas, is actually number four in the world. We don’t know whether or not he will play but he is part of that team. However, we have to prepare to play against the best,” Phillips said.
“Their number two player is not as strong and so we have to take advantage of that,” he said.
Phillips, 27, who is currently an assistant tennis coach at the University of North Florida, underscored that he has been working hard to improve on his all-round game.
“I have been doing a lot of gym work this month. and then in February I will be focusing more on just fitness to make sure that I am sharp and ready, and then I will be training tennis wise after that,” Phillips added.