The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN Justin Roberts and his long-time close friend and partner Jody Maginley from Antigua suffered a loss yesterday in the men’s doubles at the M15 Santo Domingo Tournament.

In a match that lasted one hour and 57 minutes, Roberts and Maginley lost 7-5, 6-2 in the round of 16 to the No.3 seeded team of Nick Hardt from the Dominican Republic and Shintaro Mochizuki of Japan.

Incidentally, Hardt and Mochizuki were the doubles champions from the previous tournament played last week in the Dominican Republic where Roberts and Maginley were ousted in the first round by the duo that went on to be the runners-up.

“It was a tough one,” Roberts said. “It was a good doubles team. They won the tournament last week, so they are in good form. We lost a lot of deuce points that didn’t go our way.

“But I think it was the best doubles match we played since we had the break for COVID-19 in March. So it was bad results, but decent tennis played.”

In yesterday’s match, both teams had an ace and four double faults apiece. However, Hardt and Mochizuki dominated in every other category except for second serves in which Roberts and Maginley held the advantage.

The big difference in the match was on break points won where Hardt and Mochizuki were 5-for-8 for 63 percent, compared to Roberts and Maginley, who were 2-for-7 for 29 percent.

“I thought it was a good quality match. I felt we were unlucky at the beginning because the first three games we lost all three, but they were good quality points,” Maginley said.

“We fought all at 4-4. I felt I could have served better, but overall, like Justin said, it was a good level of tennis today. I’m happy with the way we played. The results could have been better. It sucks to lose, but the tennis play was good.”

Today, Roberts will be back in action when he plays his first match in the men’s singles main draw. He is scheduled to take on American Oliver Crawford, who won the singles title last week in the Dominican Republic.

“It’s going to be a high quality match. I know I will have to play well to win,” Roberts said. “I just want to be able to play better than I have so far. “I don’t think I’ve played my best tennis yet, so I’m just looking to find my groove and play a lot better in this match.”

Maginley, however, was eliminated from singles when he was beaten on Sunday by American Austin Ansari in a marathon three-setter 3-6, 6-2, 10-2.

This is the second straight tournament in two weeks for Roberts and Maginley as they prepare to wind down the year, which was hampered by a limited amount of tournaments because of COVID-19.

They didn’t survive past the first round of main draw in singles and together, they lost in the opening round of doubles last week in the Dominican Republic.

Maginley said he has not been back home in Antigua since last year Christmas, so he’s eager to get back to reunite with family and friends.

Roberts, the top ranked Bahamian international tennis player, hopes to do the same as he looks forward to coming home for Christmas after he’s done with his singles play at the tournament this week. They both intend to return to Texas where they are located in the United States to resume their training in early January for the 2021 season and the new coronavirus pandemic environment.

The two tournaments in the Dominican Republic are being played under COVID-19 rules where social distance, wearing masks at all times and washing of hands regularly apply.

“They are doing alright. We’re not a bubble, but they are enforcing some of the rules,” Roberts said.