‘Too many voices’
Davis Cup captain slams ‘undermining’ influences on the team’s performance
Published:Wednesday | February 7, 2024 | 12:09 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
EVEN AS Jamaica’s number-one ranked tennis player, Blaise Bicknell, accepted responsibility for the country’s 3-2 defeat to Barbados in Group II Davis Cup action at the weekend, the team’s captain Noel Rutherford thinks there was another fly in the ointment.
“I think we had our chances but if you have a team that is not listening to what you’re saying, then you’re going to have different results. There were too many voices, you had people that were imposing and I think it was a sad thing,” said Rutherford.
The Jamaicans entered Sunday’s final day of action tied 1-1 with Barbados.
However, they would go behind for the first time in the tie when Bicknell and Rowland Phillips lost to the pair of Haydn Lewis and Barbados’ number-one Darian King.
Bicknell brought the tie square again at 2-2 when he strolled to a 6-1, 6-0 (2-0) win over King in the reverse singles.
In a winner-takes-all match in the second reverse singles, Phillips lost to Kaipo Marshall 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 (2-1).
According to Rutherford, while Barbados must be praised for the way they played, especially with King, who was nursing a right knee injury, the outside influence from the Jamaica camp should not be ignored.
“People were just trying to undermine me, a professional coach, and that was what happened out there. I’m willing to work with anyone, but if I’m elected to be captain of the team, I should be the only one talking to the players during a match. We could have won because we managed to level the tie, but I think if we had stuck to the plan, then the outcome could have been different. However, credit must be given to the Barbadian team, led by Darian King who was playing on one foot,” said Rutherford.
There were also questions about Rutherford’s captaincy after the tie, the captain having chosen to use Bicknell and Phillips in the doubles, meaning the players would have been playing right throughout the two-day affair.
“I stand by that decision as that was the best choice. Professionals normally play four to five hours in a day, the choice was right and if the team had won you wouldn’t be hearing any noise, so I stand by that choice,” said Rutherford.
Tennis Jamaica president, John Azar, agreed with Rutherford’s choice after the tournament, saying:
“The doubles match was crucial. The captain put out his best team. But maybe if we were up 2-0 (from the first day), he would have done things differently.”
With the defeat, Jamaica were relegated to Group III of the Davis Cup but according to Rutherford, that is not likely to remain the country’s standing.
“There are players out there on the circuit but we have to put in the work. A player-coach relationship is integral to the success of a team, so I’m willing to work with anyone who is willing to listen,” said Rutherford.