Paul-Andre Walker, Staff ReporterTHE DOMINICAN Republic have given themselves a distinct edge going into the final Group Two Davis Cup reverse singles against Jamaica today at 10 a.m.
The Dominican's gained a 2-1 advantage, with two games to go, when the pair of Victor Estrella and Johnson Garcia, romped to a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 victory over Jamaica's Jermaine Smith and Ryan Russell.
The Jamaicans stared down the barrel of the gun very early when they found themselves down a break in the first set.
Games after that were hard to come by, as the Dominican pair held their serve in magnificent fashion.
INEFFECTIVE SERVE
To add to those problems, the big serve of Smith was almost rendered ineffective, with the Dominican pair returning serve very well. Estrella was especially severe whenever Smith missed his first serve, with a number of booming forehands that had no answer.
The good return of serve caused even more problems for the Jamaicans because they became tentative going to the net and lost opportunity after opportunity to volley their way back into the game.
With nobody giving up their serve the second set went into a tie-break and despite Jamaica's off colour play, they jumped to a 4-1 lead, holding a mini-break.
However, Estrella came up with some timely shots down the middle that brought Dominica back into the tie, and eventually handed them the set.
That was the turning point in the game, as the closeness of the teams meant that an advantage like a two sets to love lead, compared to a 1-1 scoreline, was precious.
The third and final set broke the hearts of the Jamaican players and their fans, who surprisingly never lost faith in the ability of the team to get back into the game, even at two sets down and a break in the third set.
National coach, Douglas Burke, agreed with the general disappointment in the crowd and thought, like everyone else that the game could have been very different.
"A tough day, the three sets were very tight. A point here, a point there and things could have been different. We were up 4-1 in the second set tie-break but we let it slip away. Our guys were playing well but we didn't win a couple big points," said Burke.
The Dominican Republic's victory has put Jamaica squarely behind the eighth ball because their opponents only need one victory from today's reverse singles to win the Cup tie.
Ryan Russell will oppose the tough Garcia Johnson and either Smith, Damar Johnson or Scott Willinsky will take on Victor Estrella in the other match.
The Dominican Republic's pair of Victor Estrella (left) and Johnson Garcia, in action during their 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 doubles victory over Jamaica's Jermaine Smith and Ryan Russell at the Liguanea Club yesterday.
