The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas men’s Davis Cup team had to dig down deep, but they managed to prevail with a 2-1 win over Costa Rica to remain undefeated at 2-0 in the American Zone III Tie in La Paz, Bolivia.

And for the second consecutive day, it came down to the pivotal doubles as player/captain Marvin Rolle and Baker Newman got the job done, securing a come-from-behind 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 win to seal the deal.

“Today was an interesting day,” Rolle said. “Baker went out and played the first match. He played a good first set, but the second set was a really tough one.

“It was 5-5 and the guy served and pulled through. But he had the match point in the tie breaker, so it was unfortunate. Late in the third set, he just couldn’t pull it through.”

Rolle, however, said they didn’t panic because they were in a similar situation the day before against Honduras.

“Baker came out and he played solid throughout the match and he pulled off the singles win for us. Then in the doubles, it was me and Baker again. We lost the first set, but we didn’t lose out confidence. We knew that we could have hung in there with those guys.”

At 5-4, the Bahamas broke Costa Rica and went on to win the second set. In the third set, they got the early break and was able to pull it off.”

In the opening singles, Spencer Newman had a marathon match, losing to Ignaci Roca 4-6, 7-6 (90, 6-4 in a match that lasted two hours and 44 minutes.

“Today was an interesting day. I came back from 2-0 to win the first set 6-4, had a match point in the second, but he ended up getting me 6-4 in the third,” Baker Newman said. “But I wasn’t too worried. I knew the capability of our team.

“Baker came back and won in straight sets as he was able to stay strong to play doubles with Marvin. They lost the first set, but they came back. It was a comeback day for us. I am so proud of this team. I’m glad to be with these boys.”

In his singles match, Baker Newman needed just 1:28 to dispose of Pablo Nunez 6-3, 6-4 to equalise the score at 1-1.

“I just went to work,” Baker Newman said. “I won the first set rather handily. I went down a break, but managed to come back for a break. It was 4-4 and I was down 15-40, but was able to tough it out.”

Once he got off the court, Baker Newman said he got the call from Rolle to get ready to go back out for the doubles. He was able to get himself in top gear and completed the day in their three setter in 1:52.

“Today was pretty exciting, knowing that it could have gone either way,” said Kevin Major Jr, who was supporting his teammates from the sidelines. “If we had lost, it would have been tough coming out of the group in first place.

“But it was good. I’m proud of all of them. Today was a huge victory in us moving forward to win the whole thing.”

The Bahamas will be back in action today against Bermuda.