Kaipo Marshall has done it again.
The 21-year-old delivered another performance for the ages on Sunday to rescue Barbados’ hopes of staying in Davis Cup Group II, clinching victory in the final match of the tie to lift them over Jamaica 3-2.
Playing at the Eric Bell Centre in Kingston, Jamaica, the US-based Marshall overcame Rowland Phillips 6-4, 1-6, 6-2, in the decisive match to spark wild celebrations among the Barbados camp.
The result means that while Barbados will remain in Davis Group II, Jamaica will be relegated to Davis Group III.
Coincidentally, Marshall’s heroics came exactly one year to the day he saved Barbados from relegation to Davis Cup Group III against Pacific Oceania.
On that occasion, Marshall came from behind to beat Clement Mainguy 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, at the National Tennis Centre.
“I’m super happy. These types of matches make you dig as deep as possible, especially with the fact that I didn’t serve well this tie,” Marshall, who had 12 double faults in the match told SportsMax in an interview after the match.
Not even a lengthy rain delay when Marshall was leading 4-0 in the third set could thwart his quest for glory, and by the time the match resumed just after 6:30 p.m., the majority of the partisan crowd had left the venue.
Marshall duly converted on his second match point to complete victory in two hours and 14 minutes, with the Barbados team racing on to court in short but rapturous celebrations.
He came into the match with the scores tied at 2-2, following a disappointing performance from Barbados’ number one ranked player Darian King, who lost to homeboy Blaise Bicknell 6-1, 6-0.
On Saturday’s opening day, Bicknell had defeated Marshall 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, before King evened the tie with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Rowland Phillips.
King and doubles partner Haydn Lewis then made it 2-1 by defeating Bicknell and Phillips in the doubles encounter 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, before King’s loss to Bicknell set up a nerve racking finish. (RB)
