TJ president, star player in selection dispute

Jamaica number one tennis player Blaise Bicknell has threatened to withdraw from the national Davis Cup team, for what he cites as a biased selection process that is not in the best interest of the team.

Bicknell in a letter to Tennis Jamaica (TJ) president John Azar, secretary and technical committee chairman Joseph Dibbs, Tennis Jamaica technical team and the board, argued that Daniel Azar, the son of the president and who recently returned from injury, must earn his spot on the team.

The young Azar was one of four players selected automatically for the Davis Cup tie against Lebanon.

However, Bicknell, does not believe Daniel has truly earned his place, while pointing out that another player, Blaise’s brother Jacob, who has a higher world ranking, is being forced to play the qualifiers for the fifth and final spot.

“It has been extremely difficult to decide whether or not I should play Davis Cup this September. I feel strongly that Jamaica must send our strongest possible team and that every player should earn their right to be there,” Bicknell said in his letter.

“Automatically selecting a player with no ATP ranking who has a much lower world tennis number than someone who was asked to play trials was not a decision that was made in the best interest of the team.

“This player, in my opinion, has not “earned” his spot and certainly has not achieved the results at junior, collegiate or professional level, to justify not being required to play trials.”

However, in a response to Bicknell’s remarks, TJ president John Azar declared he had nothing to do with team selection, which he said is the duty of the recently appointed selection panel, who were unanimous in the players they named.

“Blaise told me prior to the Estonia tie that Daniel and Jacob were the fourth and fifth ranked players, who definitely formed the strongest team at that time.

“The only difference this time is that his brother was not recommended for automatic selection and I suspect it was because he has played practically no tennis all year,” John Azar said.

He added that they are saddened by Jacob’s failure to even respond to the invitations for trials.

“Blaise may be disappointed his brother will not be on the team and his behaviour has quite frankly been disappointing,” the TJ president said.

According to Bicknell, he has nothing against Daniel who he loves as a person and teammate. Nevertheless, he noted Daniel only recently returned from injury.

“I stand by my opinion that this decision was biased and does not give us the best opportunity to win in Lebanon,” he continued.

No bias

But Azar insists there is no bias involved, noting that the new selection committee excluded him.

“My son is part of the national senior programme. I deliberately had no part in the team selection which was as transparent as it has ever been and perhaps far more so.

“We added Errol Campbell as manager, Noel Rutherford as coach alongside captain Mel Spence and all three were unanimous in their selection of the top four players to include Daniel.

“So I would say that all players did in fact go through a “qualification process”. Blaise would do well to reacquaint himself with our unchanged selection criteria prior to making such wild and baseless accusations,” he said.

Bicknell pointed out also that no other country allows automatic selection of players for developmental purposes, and that his love for country is the only reason he will play the tie next month.

“Tennis Jamaica must start making decisions that are in the best interest of the team. Send the strongest team to each Davis Cup tie and ensure a transparent and unbiased process.

“All players without ATP ranking should be required to play trials. Tennis Jamaica has acted unprofessionally as it relates to our upcoming Davis Cup tie.

“I will fight hard for my country in Lebanon and hope that moving forward Tennis Jamaica will act in a more professional manner and not compromise our team’s chances of winning again.

“If the issues that I have outlined in this letter are not addressed going forward, I will be forced to make the decision to not represent my country at Davis Cup in the future,” Bicknell said.

Azar added that there is nothing wrong with a player expressing their concern but that the letter is disgraceful in many ways, as Blaise questioned not only the competence but integrity of the entire technical team.

He said Blaise will be reminded in no uncertain manner that his views are important but that no single player or players are more important than the team and that threats or ultimatums will not be tolerated,” Azar stated.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com