THE CHILE CHALLENGE won’t be fazing Barbados.
Write off the hosts at your own peril as local Davis Cup captain Kevin Yarde believes Barbados can beat their favoured South American counterparts despite acknowledging that Chile will be the squad’s biggest test ever.
Yarde was confident of Barbados’ chances during yesterday’s Press launch at the National Tennis Centre ahead of next week’s Americas Group II opening round tie.
“On paper this is a tough challenge in terms of ranking [but] ranking is just a number, [so] on the day you just got to go out there and play and anything can happen,” reasoned the veteran non-playing captain.
“You see [Novak] Djokovic get upset, so if the world No. 2 can get upset, then anything can happen. If we just go out there and play some good positive tennis, then positive things will happen.
“We do know it’s going to be difficult but we’re prepared to accept the challenge and do our best and we’re ready and raring to go,” he added.
It will be one of the toughest tests for a fast-rising Bajan side that made its presence felt after returning to Group II about three seasons ago and managing to maintain that status with some noteworthy victories.
But Barbados has never contended with the likes of a Chile side that once participated at the highest level of Davis Cup – the World Group – and consists of players all ranked higher than 390, including world No. 295 Hans Castillo.
And that’s a major contrast to the hosts, who currently have just two players who have ever cracked the top 400 in Darian King and Haydn Lewis.
However, Barbados will take a measure of comfort in knowing Lewis and King own a doubles win over Castillo and Davis Cup teammate Jorge Aguillar as recently as three years ago in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The home side have further cause for concern, though, as King recently suffered through some back ailments while Seanon Williams currently has one of his thighs taped up.
“Well, they are not really major concerns right now, neither Darian nor Seanon,” said Yarde.
“With Seanon it is more precautionary than anything else.”
The official draw is slated for Thursday at the Barbados Olympic Association before the tie starts the following day with two singles matches, which are scheduled to start at 10 a.m.
The rubber continues on Saturday with a solitary doubles match before the tie concludes with the reverse singles on Sunday.
“We’ve been on the court training since early December putting in some hard work on and off the court and getting ready for this very important tie, so we’re ready and raring to go,” said Yarde.
“Once again, I would like to reiterate that we would like the public to come out and support the Barbados team as we’ve done a good job to get back to Group II after a number of years being in the lower groups.”
