The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT will be a repeat match-up between Baker and Spencer Newman as the top two seeds advanced to the men’s final of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s 2016 Giorgio Baldacci National Open Tennis Challenge.

In their semi-final matches yesterday at the National Tennis Centre, defending champion Baker Newman prevailed 6-4, 7-5 over unseeded Kevin Major Jr and No.2 Spencer Newman pulled off an identical 6-2, 6-2 decision over No.3 Marvin Rolle.

On playing against his brother, Spencer Newman stressed that he’s looking forward to it.

“I need this rematch. Last year, I got forced into playing the second match of the day and I went in not as in shape as I am now,” Newman said. “This time it’s going to be a little different. I have a whole night’s rest before this match.”

Baker Newman said he’s confident that his older brother will be coming for him.

“I have to be ready. I have to bring my A game tomorrow (today),” he said.

Although the focus of attention will be on who will emerge out of the Newman brothers today, all four players earned the rights to return for another trip on the Davis Cup team.

The quartet combined to pull the Bahamas out of the American Zone III in Bolivia and now they will have a chance to carry the Bahamian flag against Venezuela in Zone II in February.

As the player/captain of the last team, Rolle said he likes what he saw from the players during the week-long tournament.

“We had some great players who tried out for the team, but fortunately, we were the four players who went through,” he said. “I’m happy to see all the guys back on the team. Hopefully we can continue the winning streak that we started.”

Spencer Newman said they have developed a chemistry that should make the difference as they work towards preparing for Venezuela.

“I’m so happy that it’s the same team,” Baker Newman said. “We have everybody back together, so I’m happy that we will get a chance to do it all over again.”

Major Jr said since the last Davis Cup tie, they formed a Davis Cup chat group and at least they don’t have to worry about deleting anybody. “We’re still the same team,” he summed up.

• Here’s how they played out

their semi-final matches:

Baker Newman over

Kevin Major Jr

After Newman got the early break to take a 1-0 lead in the first set, both players held serve until Newman got another break and eventually pulled off the win.

In the second set, Newman got a break for a 2-1 lead, but Major Jr broke to level the score. After Newman got another break for a 4-3 lead, Major Jr had to get some medical attention.

Major Jr, with his power punch volleys, eventually got a break to force a 5-5 tie. But Newman broke again to go up 6-5 and he held to win the game, set and match.

“It was a very good match that came down to a couple of points,” Baker Newman said. “I was just fighting and KJ was just fighting back. So I’m excited about what transpired and I’m even more excited about Davis Cup in February.”

Major Jr said he put it all out on the court.

“It was the most intense match that I played all tournament,” he said. “I hurt my back early in the second set, so I couldn’t move the way I wanted to. I still managed to stick in there and fight. I really wanted to win today, but unfortunately it didn’t happen.”

Spencer Newman over Marvin Rolle

Going the first set with a break for a 1-0 lead, Newman got into the driver’s seat with another break at 5-2 and he held out for the win.

And in the second set, Newman broke again in the first game and again in the fifth for a 4-1 lead and he cruised to victory as he held out for the identical final score.

“Marvin was pushing me out there today, but I felt confident. I felt tough and I was able to pull through it,” Newman said.

Rolle, in coming out on the losing end of the match, said it wasn’t his best performance and it showed in the final result.

“He put a lot of balls in. He was the better player today, so congratulations to him,” Rolle summed up.