It’s off with the cleats and back to the court for Darian King.
Barbados’ top tennis pro is set to headline a star-studded field including New Zealand-born Hornby brothers Richard and Adam in a loaded Men’s Open of this week’s CIBCFirst Caribbean Tennis Championships at the Ocean View courts.
It’s the first tournament appearance for the country’s No.1 since his MVP award-winning performance in the just-concluded David Thompson Memorial Constituency Councils’ Football Classic, where he led home side Christ Church East Central to its first ever title.
The championships also mark King’s long-awaited return to Ocean View as the Bajan ace won the inaugural edition of the tournament when he last took to the South Coast venue a year ago.
And he hardly broke a sweat, or even dropped a set, while rolling to victories over Barbados’ best.
But he’ll have to do it again if he has any hopes of repeating as both Hornby brothers have confirmed their participation as well as reigning five-time national champ Seanon Williams and local No.1 Russell Moseley.
Rising teenaged talent Matthew Hutchinson, who stunned Moseley on the way to winning September’s Courtesy Garage tournament, and one-time Davis Cup player Ryan Moseley are also expected to round out one of the best Open fields in recent history.
However, they’re all still probably playing for second in a tournament that features the best local player since the days of former world No. 300 Martin Blackman.
The championships, which serve off on Thursday, will serve also as a good warm-up for King, Williams and Russell Moseley ahead of next month’s pivotal Davis Cup encounter against former World Group contestants Chile at home.
This week’s tournament – final leg of the Courtesy Garage Race of Champions – is expected to draw players from as young as the Under-10s right up to the Over-45s age groups.