Russell Moseley’s Davis Cup days may not be over after all.
It looks like the long-time local no.1 is still in consideration for national duty after being including in a high-class eight-man field for this weekend’s start to the Barbados Invitational Top 8 Tennis Tournament.
Davis Cup captain Damien Applewhaite confirmed Moseley’s participation in the unofficial trials but was mum on the veteran’s chances of returning to the national side.
“The tournament doesn’t guarantee anyone’s selection because if you win it you aren’t assured of a spot, we just want the best quality players at one of the biggest tennis tournaments in Barbados,” said Applewhaite.
“Russell is a quality player and we want quality players like Russell at this tournament and I know Russell will do what he must to try to be a part of the Davis Cup squad.”
It’s the biggest storyline heading into the year’s most crucial tournament, which will see the likes of Adam Hornby, Seanon Williams, Xavier Lawrence, Kaipo Marshall, Aquille Trotman, Robert Hayden and Simon Lewis all playing for the right to appear alongside Darian King and Haydn Lewis on the Davis Cup team.
But most eyes will likely be fixed on Moseley, who was once a fixture on the four-man squad while being one of just four Bajan players to own a winning singles record in Davis Cup play.
The seasoned 32-year-old has been excluded for the last two seasons, having lost his place following an ordinary showing at the first Top 8 tournament in 2015.
“Yes I really do want to get back on the team and I’m trying to do everything in my power to merit selection as I thought my exclusion from the team in the first year was pretty unfortunate,” said Moseley.
He won’t have it easy, though, as Moseley is pooled in a tough Group I with current Davis Cup member and Idaho State University player Hornby; reigning national champ Kaipo Marshall and collegian Simon Lewis.
Seanon Williams will also be looking for a recall and is expected to have it easier in a group that includes collegiate players Xavier Lawrence and Aquille Trotman along with Robert Hayden.
The top two players from each group will advance to the semi-finals, where the winners face off in next Thursday’s final.
Applewhaite also announced the introduction of a women’s Top 6 featuring top players Kiana Marshall, Melena Lopez, Hannah Chambers, Gabrielle Leslie, Sanaa Hewitt and Tangia Riley-Codrington in a similar round-robin tournament.
They will be in two groups of three where the top player from each pool will advance to an automatic final.
Marshall has been pooled with Leslie and Hewitt while Group 2 consists of Lopez, Chambers and Riley-Codrington. (JM)