By Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - SportJAMAICA'S HOPES of pushing for a spot in the prestigious Group One of the Americas Zone Davis Cup event were snuffed out 4-1 by Mexico on the hardcourt of the Liguanea Club, New Kingston yesterday.
The hosts entered yesterday's decisive tie down 2-1 and needing to win both reverse singles but it was not to be despite gritty performances from No. 1 singles player Ryan Russell and his back-up Scott Willinsky.
Jamaica split the opening day's singles on Friday but were swamped by the Central Americans in the pivotal doubles yesterday leaving 20-year-old Russell with the burden of resuscitating the team's hopes in the first reverse singles.
MEEKLY SURRENDERED
Against the Mexican's top player, Miguel Gallardo Valles, he meekly surrendered the first set 6-0 and it appeared predestined that Jamaica was set for a battle to avoid relegation back to Group Three and Mexico were ordained to challenge for a spot in Group One.
However, the lefty from Montego Bay fought tooth and nail after the first set and the final 6-0, 7-6 (4), 7-5 scoreline does not truly reflect the battle that went on under a scorching sun before a small but parochial crowd.
Gallardo Valles, ranked in the 200s, just seemed to have the answer when it matters most against Russell who is ranked in the high 800s. The line between ranked players is wafer-thin but Gallardo Valles could always fall back on his deadly forehand while Russell, with no great weapon except stamina, tried to win a battle of attrition.
For the most part though, Russell showed rankings means little but, in the end, experience means a lot.
Soon after the end of the match, Russell was seen practising the same shot on a nearby court.
Willinsky, in the dead rubber, went down, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 to Mexico's doubles hero, Daniel Langre.
In a match of no relevance, Willinsky led 5-3 in the final set before losing to the counter-punching Mexican.
KEENLY-CONTESTED
After the keenly-contested tie, both captains had their say, as did a disappointed Russell.
"I was a little nervous and not moving so well in the first set," the island's current No. 1 said.
"I saw he was getting very tired and cramping up a bit and I wish it had gone into a fourth set and beyond. I gave my all for my country but it wasn't enough today," Russell said.
"If I could take a shot back in my life it would be that final volley - I wouldn't miss that shot in a thousand tries but I was just unlucky today," he said.
Jamaica's next clash will be away against feisty regional rivals Puerto Rico after the Spanish-speaking islanders lost 3-2 to the Bahamas yesterday.
Meanwhile, Mexican captain Oliver Fernandez was a relieved and happy man after a tougher than expected encounter.
"The first game was a very good game and the most important one of the tie," Fernandez said. "I was impressed by the kid (Russell) that played today, he has a very good eye but he has to work a little more on his technical skills. He has to attack the ball more," said Fernandez whose team next faces the Bahamas.
In the other Americas Zone Group Two clashes Uruguay defeated Haiti 3-2 and the Dominican Republic ripped by Cuba 4-1.
