As Barbados’ top-ranked tennis player who has represented his birthplace in the Davis Cup, Darian King is accustomed to carrying the flag and doing so with pride and zest.
But there was something extra-special when he walked onto the court at the US Open now being played in New York City. For one thing, the 23-year-old knew he was in the prayers and the dreams of tens of thousands of Bajans at home and abroad, especially those of his parents, Wesley and Myrna King. For another, he had earned the right to play in one of the world’s best- known tournaments.
 “It was my first professional tournament. Yes, I had played at the US Tennis Center before but not in the Open,” King said. “My world ranking of 190th had gotten me into the tournament and it made me feel good about myself and my tennis. I was making my first US Open professionally. It was a great and exciting experience.”
In the preliminary or qualifying round of the Open, the former student of the Lodge School came within two points of defeating Jurgen Zopp, Estonia’s highest ranked player, who was once ranked 71st in the world. King lost
3-6, 6-3, 7-6.
“For me to perform like that against someone who was formerly in the world’s top 100, I think it was a great achievement,” said King. “I had prepared well, came up against a tough opponent, and it was my first time. I could have gone out there and played atrociously and let the nerves get the better of me. I settled in and played as if I belonged there. There are things I can take from that match.”
Adrian Clarke, a Bajan tennis player in New York, watched the King-Zopp match with the eye of a professional, having been the first Barbados-born player to compete in the US Open about 32 years ago. He agreed with King.
“He played very well,” said Clarke, a former Barbados and Commonwealth Caribbean Davis Cup player. “He almost defeated Zopp. The level of Darian’s game was extremely high. I see him as someone who can become one of the world’s 100 top players, he is that good.”
When, not if, the 23-year-old King reaches that exclusive club, he would have attained a major goal.
“My goal is to become one of the best 100 players in the world,” he said. “I am trying to put in very good performances whenever I set foot on the court.”
He intends to do that in the upcoming Davis Cup matches between Barbados and Ecuador beginning in Barbados on September 18.  Â
“I will be playing in the singles and in doubles and I am really looking forward to it,” he said.
With the US Open behind him, King will bring a lot of experience to the Davis Cup draw. He has represented Barbados against Chile, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic and has played in the Youth Olympics and the Juniors at Wimbledon and the French Open. Just as important, he has gone up against some of the top players in Italy and France, beating some of them.
And who are his mentors in the game. Interestingly, he put 22-year-old Sloane Stephens, one of America’s and the world’s leading female players who has a worldwide ranking of 29.
“Sloane is also my best friend. She is an excellent player and we play a lot together,” he said.
Darian was quick to say that it was a delight just to watch Serena Williams, the current Australian, French and Wimbledon singles champion, compete. He readily acknowledged the support he has received from Barbados’ corporate community and the help he received on the court from Martin Blackman, a Barbadian and a former tennis professional who played in the US Open and at Wimbledon but who now heads America’s national youth tennis development programme.
“I have trained with Martin.” Darian pointed out. “My parents have been extremely supportive. I would like to see more young Barbadians become interested in the game and I am convinced more can be done to get into them into the game. Tennis is a great game.”
Tony Best is the NATION’S North American correspondent.
