Barbados’ girls’ tennis team advanced to the main draw of the Federation Cup after beating Aruba 2-1 in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.
Kiana Marshall gave the Bajans a 1-0 lead beating Natascha Esschendal 6-1,6-0 but Melena Lopez went down to Lotte Van Reek 4-6, 6-0, 6-2. Lopez regained her composure in the doubles, teaming up with Marshall to beat the opposition 6-1, 6-3 and give Barbados the 2-1 win.
The Bajans then finished their doubles match from the previous day against Puerto Rico but lost 7-5, 6-2 to finish second in the group and set up a quarter-final clash with El Salvador.
The girls had a good start against top-seeded Puerto Rico when Marshall beat Chantal Martinez 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 but Lopez lost to Yolimar Ogando – ranked 290th by the International Tennis Federation – 6-0, 6-0.
The boys found the going tougher, losing 3-0 to a very tough Dominican Republic. Ajani King went down 6-1, 6-1 to Manuel Castellanos, Brandon Lee lost to ITF’s No. 727-ranked player Juan Bisono 6-2, 6-1, and the doubles team of King and Simon Lewis lost 6-1, 6-1 to Castellanos and Manuel Rodriguez 6-1, 6-1. (HG/PR)
