by Sherrylyn A. Clarke

TAKING BARBADOS out of the round robin phase of the Davis Cup Tennis Tournament is one of the goals of national tennis co-ordinator Kevin Yarde.

Barbados were promoted to Group 3 earlier this year, but within the next "year or two" he would like them to be making another vertical move to Group 2.

"I would like them to get out of Group 3 so they can get out of the round robin and have some home-and-away ties.

"The juniors would be able to see the type of tennis that is being played and also see fellow Barbadians competing at this level," Yarde said.

Captain

"When I was growing up, I got a chance to see Richard Ashby play at Paradise. I don't know if it will take a year or two in tennis, but it is what I would like to see happen."

Yarde was the non-playing captain of the Barbados team that included Michael Date, Haydn Lewis, Russell Moseley, and Damien Applewhaite.

Along with Panama, Barbados were promoted to Group 3 to join The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and Costa Rica.

Despite their success, this year's team was put together at short notice and Yarde would like more preparation time next year.

"I would really like the selection of the team to be made early so we get them prepared physically, technically and tactically, and work on minor technical errors in the game.

Experience

"It would also be nice if the guys got some match play experience on clay before they went to the tournament.

"If we can get sponsorship from corporate Barbados so the team can go somewhere near in Central America and get some match play before the tournament, it would be a great help to the team."

Yarde is especially encouraged by Lewis who is currently in Australia playing some ITF Futures and working on improving his ranking which had fallen while he was injured.

Yarde said Lewis took the Barbados team on his shoulders during the tournament, and he believes he is one of the best prospects the island has produced for some time.

"I think Haydn is Barbados' best hope of producing another world-ranked tennis player.

"We had Martin Blackman and Richard Ashby, but I believe Haydn can do good things for this game and for Barbados."

Meanwhile, Yarde is planning to stage a Top 16 tournament in January which will allow him to see the talent he has at his disposal.

"I don't have a problem with coaches doing their own thing, but when you are going to a tournament, I would try to take them for a couple of weeks to go through some drills, work on their weaknesses, improve their strengths and also get to know their personality," said the young man, who holds an ITF Level 2 coaching certificate.

"My job is to bring out the best in them regardless of their playing style and make them the best they can be."