Davis Cup team fine-tuning

Coach and non-playing captain of the Barbados team Kevin Yarde (left) making a point about volleying techniques to Davis Cup players Anthony Marshall (centre) and Seanon Williams during a training session at the National Tennis Centre. (BB)

Fri, February 03, 2012 - 12:03 AM

Barbados’ national team players have stepped up their preparations for next week’s 2012 Davis Cup encounter against Paraguay at the National Tennis Centre.

London-based player Anthony Marshall, who flew into the island on Monday, and locally-based Seanon Williams, have been training day and night as Barbados seek to qualify for the second round in Group 2 of the Americas Zone.

The island’s top two players, Darian King and Haydn Lewis, are currently on the ATP Futures circuit in the United States, competing in tournaments and keeping themselves match-ready for the important encounter.

“Our preparations have been going well. Anthony and Seanon are putting in the work at the Tennis Centre and Darian and Haydn are playing in tournaments overseas.

“We will have all four players in Barbados early next week for the final phase of preparation,” said coach and non-playing captain Kevin Yarde.

The tie starts next Friday with opening singles matches, and Yarde called on sports-loving Barbadians to come out and support the national team.

Matches continue with doubles on the Saturday and reverse singles on the Sunday.

Barbados have named an unchanged team for 2012 Davis Cup play after King, Lewis, Marshall and Williams helped the island to secure promotion to Group 2 by winning Group 3 in Bolivia last year. (PR)