Ja fall to Antigua and Barbuda

JAMAICA’S SUFFERED a setback in their second Group Three Americas Davis Cup qualifying match in Escazu, Costa Rica, yesterday when they went down 2-1 to Antigua and Barbuda.

Speaking from Costa Rica, captain Dominic Pagon said the match was close and could have gone either way. He expects another tough clash against frontrunners The Bahamas at the Costa Rica Country Club today.

“It (defeat) is a setback, but it depends on how we do in the next couple of matches. Hopefully, the guys will rebound, and [today] will be a better day for us. It (Bahamas game) is going to be another battle again. Every team here is strong, so both singles matches should be very difficult as well as the doubles match,” he said.

“But if the players show up and play good tennis, we have a great chance of winning. It is going to come down to who is mentally tougher in the big points, but this is just our third match, so we still have a good opportunity [to qualify],” he said.

FLYING START

After beating Bermuda in their first match, Jamaica were on the losing end in their second game yesterday. Dimitri Bird got Jamaica off to a flying start by defeating Shakir Elvin 6-1, 6-1, but Antigua and Barbuda levelled the tie thanks to Jody McGinley’s 7-5, 6-2 win over Rowland Phillips.

Antigua then completed the comeback when McGinley and Carlton Bedminster defeated Phillips and Marcus Malcolm 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in the doubles contest.

Jamaica dropped to third with one win from two games while Antigua and Barbuda joined Bahamas on two wins each.

“Bird played a very good match. In the next, Jody (McGinley) was the better player on the day. Then it was a very close doubles match, which we ended up losing in the third set. But the guys fought hard,” Pagon said.