The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The success continues for the Bahamas’ newest edition of its Davis Cup team as they remain undefeated in tournament play.

The quartet of Baker and Spencer Newman along with team captain Marvin Rolle and Kevin Major Jr defeated Bermuda 3-0 yesterday at the American Zone III Davis Cup Tie.

The Bahamas has been a force on the outdoor clay courts at the Club de Tenis La Paz in La Paz, Bolivia, thus far with wins over Honduras,  Costa Rica and Bermuda.

Spencer opened up singles play by defeating Gavin Manders in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. He won 66 per cent of his first serve points and 69 per cent of second serve points. He also took 4-6 break points while Manders managed just 2-4.

In match two, Baker made quick work of Neal Towlson in just 62 minutes and took the match in straight sets 6-3, 6-2. He dominated the match in virtually every statistical category by recording  three aces, winning 87 per cent of first serve points, 75 per cent of second serve points and 4-5 break points.

The Bahamas closed out the afternoon when Spencer teamed with Rolle to defeat Jenson Bascome and David Thomas 6-2, 6-3. They have one final matchup in group play against Trinidad and Tobago before they advance to the reclassification round.

The tournament features a group of teams that includes – Pool A: Bolivia, Cuba, Jamaica, Panama and Pool B:  The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Honduras, Costa Rica and Bermuda in a round-robin format in two pools.

The winner of Pool A will playoff against the runner-up of Pool B and the winner of Pool B will playoff against the runner-up of Pool A to determine which two nations will advance to Americas Zone Group II in 2017.

The Bahamas is competing in Americas Zone Group III for a seventh consecutive year in 2016.

In their last Davis Cup appearance, the Bahamas recorded a 2-2 record through the round-robin stage of the event in Panama, which meant they would not advance to the promotion play-offs.

Wins over Trinidad and Tobago and Bermuda were sandwiched between defeats to eventual top two Guatemala and Jamaica. They were also beaten by Honduras in a position play-off, leaving them in sixth place and in Zone Group III for another year.

The Florida-based Newman brothers have had an immediate impact on the Davis Cup programme with their addition this year.

They secured the top two spots on the team following their performance at the Giorgio Baldacci December Invitational.

The BLTA, however, had to pay a hefty fee of $9,500 to the United States Tennis Association to include the Newman brothers on the team. It was reduced from the original price of $27,400, which was secured through the efforts of the Florida community where the Newman brothers reside, their family, friends and the BLTA.