Davis tie into second reserve day

THE TOP OF the table Americas Zone Davis Cup tennis tie between Barbados and Venezuela is heading into a second reserve day.

That’s because heavy rains dumped by Hurricane Maria reduced yesterday’s match at the National Tennis Centre to just four games, with the host country’s number one Darian King marching to a 5-2 lead in the second set over Venezuela’s Ricardo Rodriguez, who won the first set 7-5.

Play resumed just after 2 p.m. and King, who was ahead 2-1 at the start of the day, was able to take charge with his strong baseline game. He was on the verge of taking the second set when driving rain sent the players scampering off the court.

Venezuela has an overall 2-1 lead, meaning that King has to win his showdown with Rodriguez to force the tie into a do-or-die fifth match. If the 25-year-old King wins, Barbados will almost certainly turn to the experienced Haydn Lewis to seal the rubber. (MK)

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