Bicknell expects tough fight from Uruguay

Jamaica’s top-ranked tennis player, Blaise Bicknell, is expecting a tough battle when the national team faces Uruguay in next month’s Davis Cup Group Two play-off tie but remains confident the hosts will be ready to rise to the challenge.

The highly anticipated encounter is scheduled for February 7–8 in Kingston, where Jamaica will look to capitalise on home advantage against their South American opponents. Bicknell said the team is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the Uruguayan team and, therefore, he is backing his team to come out on top.

“I am feeling good, but I know these Uruguayan players, and they love the clay courts, so playing against them on the hard court, we just have to go out there and make it difficult for them and win this tie,” said Bicknell.

“Our team is in great spirits, and a lot of team members are out working hard and getting good results, so we have high hopes for this tie. It is going to be very tough because they are extremely good,” he said.

Bicknell, 24, who is currently ranked 491 in the world, added that Jamaica would need to be at their very best but is confident of success with home support.

“They are very talented players, so we will have to bring our best, but we will be well prepared, and I am confident that we are going to get the win on our home turf with all the home support that we will be getting,” he stated.

“The team is in good spirits, and Randy (Phillips) is looking good. We had a great tournament in December, and he is here training hard with Nicholas (Gore) right now, and the rest of the team is also in great spirits.”

Bicknell enters the tie in good form after capturing the men’s singles title at the Real Equity Open Tennis Championships last December at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston, where he defeated Phillips 6-3, 7-5 in the final. He also disclosed that he would also fine-tune his preparations for next month’s Davis Cup tie against the Uraguayans when he competes in a Challenger Tournament in the United States this weekend.

“Yes, there will be a lot of pressure on me, but pressure is a privilege, and it is a lot of fun to play at home,” Bicknell said.

“I am in great shape now because I have been working hard, and I will be going to San Diego on Friday for a Challenger tournament, and I am hoping for some good results before returning to Jamaica for the Davis Cup.”