BARBADOS’ top tennis players will face their toughest assignment in recent years when they oppose Mexico in Americas Zone Group 2 Davis Cup competition in Mexico City from tomorrow.
This semi-final, coming after Barbados dispatched Paraguay 3-2 in Barbados in February, will be played on red clay, and at high altitude, at the Rafael El Pelon Osuna Stadium for three consecutive days.
Mexico, ranked No. 46 in the world, will start as favourites against No. 60 ranked Barbados in the playing conditions 7 000 feet above sea-level but Barbados non-playing captain Kevin Yarde said his players had been showing encouraging adjustment to the high altitude.
“We did some workouts and the players have been adjusting pretty well.
“They are talented and once they play well and execute well, we have a good chance of causing problems for the Mexicans,” Yarde said.
Darian King and Haydn Lewis will again be heavily depended on to lead the charge for Barbados and are expected to play the opening singles tomorrow.
King and Lewis were in outstanding form in the tie against Paraguay as they played without dropping a set to give their country an unsurpassable 3-0 lead, before the South Americans won the reverse singles.
Based on results from the August 2011 Pan Am Games in Mexico, the Barbadians should also have a measure of confidence against the Mexicans, as they defeated Mexico’s top doubles pair.
Victory for Barbados would carry them into the final of Group 2 to oppose either Venezuela or the Dominican Republic, who are playing in the other semi-final this weekend.
Should Barbados reach the final and win, this would secure their promotion to Group 1 in the Americas Zone for the first time in Davis Cup history.
The Mexicans, who previously competed in the World Group for ten years, were in outstanding form in their last encounter, whipping El Salvador 5-0 at Rafael El Pelon Stadium. (PR/EZS)
