WillinskyBy Tym Glaser,
Associate Editor - Sport
HAVANA:
JAMAICA'S Davis Cup team booked a semi-final berth in the America Zone Group 3 competition yesterday but not before giving their on-site fans serious heart flutters in the opening singles against Bermuda.
Captain Douglas Burke decided to roll the dice against the unfancied Bermudans and opted to rest No. 1 player Jermaine Smith and insert the top junior college player in the United States, Peter Gordon.
When Gordon found himself down two sets to one against Bermuda's James Collieson, it looked like the dice had come up snake eyes, however Gordon fought back in hot and gusty conditions and claimed the final two sets to clinch the crucial first encounter 2-4, 4-1, 1-4, 4-0, 6-4 at the Centro National de Tenis '19 de Noviembre'.
Scott Willinsky, promoted to the No. 1 berth, sealed the issue with a classy 4-2, 5-3, 4-2 victory over tall Bermudan No. 1 Donald Evans. Smith and Elvis Henry then combined to win the dead doubles rubber 4-5 (7-5), 4-2, 4-1, 5-4 (7-4) over Ricky Mallory and Jasom Bascome.
It was all a little too close for comfort for captain Burke but the move ultimately paid off and he now has a fresh Smith to combat hosts Cuba in a battle of the Group B unbeatens today which will decide the pecking order for tomorrow's semis.
"I was definitely worried when Peter went down 2-1," Burke said. "He was a little nervous but he fought back well -- I have a lot of faith in my players and they didn't let me down today.
"I decided from early to have the top guys ready. It's tough to play singles five straight days in a row, so one played singles today and the other doubles.
"Tomorrow we have Cuba and we want to finish top of our group and then on Saturday the semi-finals are critical to being promoted to Group 2. It's important to have your top guys fresh."
Gordon put his shaky start down to three factors: nerves, underestimating his opponent and a fluky breeze which suited Collieson's top-spin forehands to a tee.
"At the start of the match, I wasn't mentally prepared for someone that good and he really surprised me," Tyler University's No. 1 player said. "Then there was the wind which was very strong.
"I just knew I had to hang in there because we needed the win."
Now, Jamaica's full attention shifts to the host side and the top berth from the group which would match them against the second team in Group A. The Cubans had some tough moments against Bolivia yesterday but still won 3-0.
"It is very important to beat Cuba and finish top of the group," Burke said. "They are a very good team -- but we are very confident because we haven't lost a match yet and we are playing very well. It's psychologically important as well going into the semis."
There will be no gambling today as Burke will roll out Willinsky and Smith in the singles and then pair them in the doubles rubber.
Meanwhile, in Group A, the puzzle is far less clear. Trinidad and Tobago upset El Salvador 2-1 and Honduras shocked Puerto Rico by the same scoreline.
Each team in that group has a win and a loss so the semi-finalists will be today's winners.
TODAY'S TIES
Group A: El Salvador vs Puerto Rico, Honduras vs Trinidad and Tobago.
Group B: Cuba vs Jamaica, Bermuda vs Bolivia.
