TT face relegation in Davis Cup tennis

Trinidad and Tobago tennis stars face another major challenge to beat St Lucia in three straight matches today to remain in Davis Cup American Zone Group Three. The twin-island republic are battling for survival, after the highly-rated Shane Stone and national champion Ivor Grazette lost their singles encounters, to be followed by the inexperienced pair of Grazette and Dexter Mahase.

But they failed to find their rhythm and buckled under pressure, in the group considered fairly safe, to move forward to the promotion round. Playing on court one at the refurbished Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo yesterday, the TT players faltered terribly against the hyped-up El Salvadoreans who fought courageously for every single point as if their lives depended on it. The difference was the grit, the determination, the composure and sure-handedness for the big points and the Central American players proved superior.

El Salvador came up trumps with a convincing 3-0 win and clinched the second qualifying spot in Group “B” which was headed by the gutsy Puerto Ricans who remained unbeaten as they prevailed by a 2-1 margin over the equally determined Honduras team on court two. Puerto Rico and El Salvador join Group “A” leaders Jamaica and runners-up Bolivia in the promotion qualifying round which starts today. TT are now bracketed with St Lucia, Guatemala and Honduras in the relegation play-offs. Guatemala hold a 3-0 advantage over St Lucia and must fancy their chances of staying on in Group Three. But they will square off against Honduras on court three while TT and St Lucia will be firing away on court one.  Jamaica take on El Salvador on court two while Puerto Rico challenge Bolivia on centre court. All matches start at 10 am.

Davis Cup- Third Day Results.
GROUP A
JAMAICA beat Guatemala 2-1.
Dustin Brown lost to Cristian Paiz 3-6, 6-7 (8); Ryan Russell bt Rodrigo Gabriel 6-2, 6-2; Russell and Browb bt Paiz and Jorge Tejada beat 7-5, 6-7 and 6-1.
BOLIVIA beat St Lucia 3-0.
Alberto Sottocomo bt Vernon Lewis 7-5 and 6-3; Javier Taborga bt Sirsean Arlain 6-0, 6-1; Diego Camacho and Taborga bt Alberton Richelieu jr and Yves Sinson 6-3 and 6-2.

GROUP B
EL SALVADOR beat Trinidad and Tobago 3-0.
Jaime Cuellar bt Shane Stone 6-2,6-1; Rafael Arevalo bt Ivor Grazette 6-3, 6-3; Jose Baires and Augusto Sanabria bt Dexter Mahase and Grazette 6-2 and 6-2.
PUERTO RICO beat Honduras 2-1.
Gilberto Alvarez bt Francklin Garcia 6-3, 6-3; Luis Haddock lost to Pablo Hernandez 6-2, 0-6 and 2-6; Gabriel Montilla and Alvarez bt Carlos Caceres and Garcia 6-2, 5-7 and 6-2.