Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - Sport
The Jamaica Davis Cup team: (from left) Ryan Russell, Damion Johnson, Jermaine Smith and Eldad Campbell pose for a team photograph moments before the Cup draw to decide the match ups for the Davis Cup American Zone Group 2 tennis show-down at Tryall, in Hanover starting today. - CLAUDINE HOUSEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
MONTEGO BAY:
JAMAICA'S QUEST to remain in the Davis Cup Americas Zone Group Two begins in earnest today against Guatemala on the hardcourts at Tryall.
The island's No. 1 tennis player and local hero, Ryan Russell, will lead the hosts' charge in the opening singles rubber against Guatemala's No. 2, Israel Morales, at 10:00 a.m.
The Montegonian left-hander will then be followed onto the court by Cup debutant Damion Johnson, who will face the visitors' No. 1, Cristian Paez.
Russell and Cup veteran Jermaine Smith are down to do battle with Luis Perez-Chete and Manuel Chavez in tomorrow's doubles. The reverse singles follow on Sunday. The losers of the encounter will fall back to Group Three while the winners will live to play another year in Group Two.
CONFIDENT
After yesterday's draw, non-playing captain Douglas Burke was quietly confident about his team's chances.
"We know their players - they are solid," Burke said. "Paez has an ATP ranking and he's playing the tour - giving it a shot. Morales is pretty aggressive and, like Paez, he's a baseliner.
"But our guys are feeling good. Ryan Russell has been training very well and working very hard. Young Damion Johnson has been competing at the junior college level in the United States and also doing very well," he said.
"We are ready for tomorrow. Things are dynamic in Davis Cup and we will just be taking it one game at a time, one set at a time and not trying to think too far ahead.
"We have a good blend of experience (Russell and Smith) and youth (Johnson and Eldad Campbell) and that should hold us in good stead."
TOUGH ENCOUNTER
Paez said his squad expected a tough encounter but was ready for the challenge.
"We have been working very hard and are ready to play," Paez said. "The courts here are slow which suits us and we are very fit - the (hot) weather should not affect us at all," he said.
"I know Ryan Russell and he knows me. We haven't played before but I have watched him and know how he plays," the 24-year-old Guatemalan said of his likely foe in Sunday's singles. Jamaica and Guatemala have met in the Davis Cup five times with the Central Americans winning four of those clashes.
However, when they last met in 2003 in Trinidad, Jamaica won the Group Three tie 2-1 and ultimately were promoted to Group Two.
Before a ball is served in anger this morning, there will be an official opening ceremony at the Hanover resort, which is a co-sponsor of the Jamaica team along with Footlocker and Gatorade.
