Team loses two matches to one to open Davis Cup play
Simba FrenchSend an emailJune 23, 2022 184 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email
The Bahamas’ men’s doubles team of Baker Newman and Marvin Rolle played a tough match to stop Paraguay from a sweep in Davis Cup competition on Wednesday. They won that match, but lost the tie 2-1 at the Costa Rica Country Club in Escazo, Costa Rica.
The match lasted a little over two hours. Rolle and Newman battled back after dropping the first set 6-2, and pulled off a tough three-setter 2-6, 7-5 and 7-6. The Bahamas won the first game of the second set but Paraguay won the second. It was a back and forth as the score was tied at 5-5. Rolle and Newman won the next two games to win the set 7-5.
The third set was tougher as it went to 6-6 before Rolle and Newman took the final game in a tiebreak to win the set 7-6 and take the match.
Earlier in the day, Spencer Newman was up first against Juan Borba. He had a good start as the set was tied at three. Newman lost the next three games as Borba won the first set 6-3.
The second set was more competitive, going 5-3 in favor of Borba. Newman won one more game to make it 5-4 but Borba won the next two games to win 6-4 and take the match. Paraguay went up 1-0 with that result.
In the number one singles spot was Kevin Major Jr. He went up against Adolfo Vallejo. It was a tightly contested match as each set was tied in the later stages. It was tied 5-5 in the first set before Vallego won the next two games. Vallego won that set 7-5.
The second set did not occur as Major was forced to retire with a foot injury. It is unclear if he will be able to play today.
The Bahamas is set to play Jamaica today. Jamaica won its first tie against Costa Rica yesterday. The Bahamas will be looking to win its first tie.
The Bahamas is in Group B with Paraguay and Jamaica. In Pool A are Venezuela, Guatemala, Puerto Rico and Panama. Venezuela, Jamaica and Paraguay were all relegated from Group II to Group III this year. Three teams from this tournament are expected to advance to the Americas Zone Group II Playoffs and two teams will be relegated to the Americas Group IV. The top country in the pool obtains an automatic promotion. The second-place finisher will have to play the second-place finisher in Pool A and the winner of that match will advance.