The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association named its Davis and Fed Cup teams set to represent the country in their respective events this year.

Named to the Davis Cup team for men were Donte Armbrister, Justin Lunn, Kevin Major Jr, Baker Newman and Phillip Major Jr while Marvin Rolle will once again serve as team captain.

The Fed Cup team for ladies will include Sydney Clarke, Sierra Donaldson, Kerrie Cartwright, Danielle Thompson and a player to be selected at a later date.

Darnette Weir, president of the BLTA, said the organisation decided upon an independent committee to advise on the course of action for the national teams moving forward.

“The BLTA’s selection criteria for its Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams are: top-ranked players on the ATP/WTA Tours and top finishers in the Giorgio Baldacci Open Challenge. These criteria have been in place for several years, however, even though there was a successful end to the 2018 Open Nationals we recognise that some of our top players did not play. In the spirit of transparency and objectivity, the board appointed a special independent committee to make recommendations for the criteria to be used for team selection for the Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams.”

The selection committee comprised of highly respected individuals in the local tennis community included Mickey Williams (Sports Hall of Fame and ITF Supervisor), Mark Knowles (former doubles World No.1, three-time Grand Slam winner), Michael Butler (local coach, J Barrie Farrington (former BLTA President) and Karen Turnquest (former BLTA vice president).

According to Weir, the executive board of the BLTA unanimously approved all recommendations made by the independent committee.

The two finalists from each of the main draws of the Giorgio Baldacci Open were selected, in addition to the two highest ranked players, while the fifth player is selected by each respective team’s coach.

The Fed Cup event is set for the week of April 15. The Bahamas will know its date and destination of the Davis Cup when the draw takes place on February 5.

For the Davis Cup, if it is held in September rather than April, the BLTA will host another tournament held to determine 3-5th place. Those players will comprise the team alongside the two top players from the Open Nationals selected in accordance with the BLTA selection rules.

“The BLTA’s Board of Directors dedicates itself to leading by example in serving the needs of the federation and its members. We are committed to upholding a code of ethics and to act at all times in the best interest of the association and not for personal gain,” Weir said. “The board will also exercise proper authority and good judgment in our dealings and continue to conduct the business affairs of the association in good faith, and with honesty, integrity, due diligence and reasonable competence”.

The formation of the independent committee arose out of the controversy surrounding last December’s Giorgio Baldacci Nationals. The majority of the top male and female players still opted not to participate in the main draw of the event.

Cartwright and Thompson and male competitors Kevin Major Jr, Newman and Philip Major Jr were all absent from competition.

Armbrister went on to win the tournament, defeating Lunn in the finals. Clarke defeated Donaldson to win the women’s draw.

“Donte and Sydney have both done very well,” said BLTA 1st vice president Ceron Rolle. “Sydney ended the year top 200 in the ITF junior tour, Donte finished as high as No. 615 so we have players that are doing very well at the international level.”

The Bahamas’ last appearance at the Davis Cup included the team of Jody Turnquest, Newman, Phillip Major Jr, and player/captain Rolle.

The team advanced to the American Zone II Davis Cup competition. They prevailed with a 2-1 decision over Costa Rica.

At the Fed Cup in July, the Bahamas’ team of Cartwright, Donaldson, Thompson and Simone Pratt lost to Ecuador in the Fed Cup Group II Zone B final. Rolle served as team captain.

“The tennis community is very small and we all have a vested interest. We wanted to put together individuals who have expertise, knowledge and experience to put together a team,” said BLTA treasurer Bjorn Ferguson. “We thought their recommendations were reasonable, we adopted them and going forward we look to expand on that.”