Barbados’ tennis players will be fighting for their Davis Cup lives come April.
Led by Arevalo brothers Marcelo and Rafael, El Salvador put the ultramarine and gold outfit on the brink of elimination from the America’s Group II after completing a 4-1 victory last Sunday in the opening round tie at Santa Tecla.
Playing at the Maya Country Club, the hosts finished the tie when Rafael Arevalo won his reverse singles match against Seanon Williams 6-2, 6-2 after Barbados No.1 Darian King managed to pull back one for the visitors in a 6-1, 6-2 win over Alejandro Gonzalez.
“It’s always tough playing away from home, having to adapt to the conditions just a few days before the competition,” King said.
“But I think we played well overall because it wasn’t like it was a walk in the park for them. We had our chances but just did not convert.”
The result means Barbados will have to defeat Puerto Rico in a home rubber slated for April 5 to 7 to keep their Group II status for next season.
But the Bajans are in danger of having to play that tie in Puerto Rico after it was revealed that Barbados might be without an ITF-sanctioned venue due to the unavailability of the National Tennis Centre.
“So [we] need as many things in our favour as we can get. I hope we do in fact get to play that match at home,” said King.
“This is a very important match and playing at home will give us an advantage over them with the support aspect.”
King’s victory last Sunday proved the lone measure of solace for Barbados, who had already surrendered the tie last Saturday when King and Russell Moseley lost the doubles match against the Arevalo boys 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 2-6 to put the guests in an insurmountable 3-0 hole.
King, currently ranked 492 in the world, had previously lost his opening singles match to Rafael 3-6, 7-6(1), 2-6, 4-6 on Friday before Barbados’ No. 2 Anthony Marshall went down in a 1-6, 1-6, 1-6 straight sets defeat to Marcelo.
Works are currently underway to have the Sunset Crest tennis facility ready and meet International Tennis Federation’s stipulations by next month. (JM)
