Tym Glaser, Associate Editor Sport
Jermaine Smith (right) prepares to play a backhand as teammate Ryan Russell looks on during the Davis Cup Americas Zone Group Two doubles match at Tryall, in Hanover, yesterday. Smith and Russell defeated Guatemala's Luis Perez-Chete and Manuel Chavez 7- 6 (7-5), 6-3, 6-1. - CLAUDINE HOUSEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
MONTEGO BAY:
JAMAICA TOOK a crucial step closer to survival in Davis Cup Americas Zone Group Two when they clinched the doubles rubber against Guatemala at Tryall yesterday.
Holding a 1-0 edge in the elimination tie thanks to Ryan Russell's victory over Israel Morales on the rain-affected opening day, the visitors' No. 1, Cristian Paiz, levelled the tie yesterday by scraping past an ailing Damion Johnson in four sets.
However, Russell and Jermaine Smith combined to win the doubles against the portly pair of Luis Perez-Chete and Manuel Chavez, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 6-1, to give the hosts a 2-1 lead with the reverse singles to come today.
After another hot, blustery but thankfully dry day, Jamaica captain Douglas Burke said his team was right where it wanted to be going into the final day.
"We are 2-1 up and we have a fit
and confident Ryan in action first up tomorrow," he said. "It was very important that we won the doubles today. Their guys were very experienced and gave us a tough time early. They returned serve very well but we settled down and once we won the first set, we were pretty much in charge."
FULL OF GRIT
In the day's first encounter the
second singles match which was held over from the opening day, Paiz outlasted Johnson 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 in a clash short on highlights but full of grit particularly from the Jamaican rookie who struggled with cramps from early in the third set and even had to be carried from the court for treatment in the fourth.
Neither player found any service rhythm as the match was littered with a whopping 27 breaks of serve but the experience of Paiz, who has a world ranking in the 900s, eventually told against the junior college student.
"I've been working a lot in this weather and it helped me as I was able to win this match," Paiz said after the three-hour encounter. "It is always tough in Davis Cup. Everybody fights to the end and I was expecting a battle today from Damion," he said.
"It is a relief. We have tied the series and now I must rest and get ready for tomorrow against Ryan. It will be a tight match because I think we play the same way all around the court."
A weary Johnson lamented the fact his body gave out on him in his biggest challenge to date.
"It was a match I should have won," he said. "I didn't feel pressured on the court, it was just that my legs gave out in the heat.
"I hadn't played four sets before at this level. In college you only play three."
Johnson said he was unsure of his status for today's reverse singles against the hard-hitting Morales as was captain Burke.
ENTERTAINING AFFAIR
"We will just have to assess things tonight," Burke said. "We have three good players in Damion, Eldad Campbell and Jermaine and we will make a decision after we've discussed the situation," he said.
In contrast to the singles, the doubles rubber was a lively and entertaining affair, which featured some fine strokeplay on both sides of the net.
The feisty Guatemalans pushed their younger foes to a tiebreak in the first set but, while their hearts were willing, the youth and power of Smith and Russell won out.
The latter will now be charged with sealing the deal this morning.
"It's a situation I've been in many, many times before and I'm looking forward to it," Russell said. "I'm fit and feeling well.
"I know he (Paiz) didn't play well today but that's tennis you can have an off day. He's a good player, he's beaten players ranked in the top 300, but I'm confident," he said.
Action begins today at 10:00 a.m.