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Davis Cup team lose to Haiti

Shammi Kowlessar

Monday, June 19th 2006

TRINIDAD and Tobago were left in danger of being relegated to the lowest wrung of the Davis Cup ladder after going under to Haiti in American Zone Group III of the world's premier male team tennis tournament in El Salvador Saturday.

T&T were defeated 2-1 and needed to beat Costa Rica after press time last night to avoid being one of the two participating teams countries to go down to Group IV.

Things did not look good from the start for T&T Saturday when No. 1 singles player Richard Brown was forced to sit out the tie with a stomach virus. Michael Clarke made his Davis Cup singles debut and the United States-based 16-year-old lost the opening match 64, 6-1 to Gael Gaetjens.

Playing in the No. 1 singles spot, Shane Stone levelled proceedings with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Joel Allen but Stone and brother Troy were then shocked 6-2, 6-3 in the deciding doubles match by Allen and Jean Marc Bazanne. The siblings had won their two previous doubles matches in the tournament.

The last time Shane Stone played on a Davis Cup team which was in danger of going down to Group IV, the former world-ranked singles and doubles player won crucial singles and doubles matches with an injury in 2001 to remain in Group III.

T&T started the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Honduras but have since lost their three "ties" while Costa Rica were defeated in their first three "ties" before beating Honduras 2-1 on Saturday.