Tennis aces due in for warm-up

Seanon Williams preparing to whip a top spin forehand return during his training session yesterday. (Kenmore Bynoe)

Sun, February 05, 2012 - 12:03 AM

TOP BARBADOS TENNIS PLAYERS Darian King and Haydn Lewis are due in the island tomorrow as the home side continues preparations for its opening round Group II Davis Cup tie against Paraguay.

At least four individuals of a six-member Paraguay squad will also fly into the island tomorrow afternoon for the Americas Zone Group 2 encounter, which serves off on Friday, February 10, at the National Tennis Centre, Wildey.

Both teams are scheduled to intensify training on the hardcourts at the Tennis Centre on Tuesday, as they seek to qualify for the second round of the hemispheric team competition.

Yesterday, other members of the Barbados team, Anthony Marshall and Seanon Williams, put in four hours of practice under the watchful eyes of non-playing captain Kevin Yarde.

“We did some match practice and the sessions went pretty well. Once Darian and Haydn arrive, we will definitely intensify our work in critical areas and plan our strategy,” said Yarde.

Meantime, President of the Barbados Tennis Association, Dr Raymond Forde, reported preparations for the major event at the Tennis Centre were on target.

Forde disclosed that the stadium court, where all matches in the tie will be contested, was ready for play and fully outfitted for the event with International Tennis Federation branding.

Play in Davis Cup competition starts with the opening singles matches on Friday and continue with doubles on the following day and reverse singles on Sunday.

Barbados 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)