T&T tennis players Aalisha Alexis and Jordane Dookie claimed the two singles matches early to take fifth place ahead of regional rival St Lucia (LCA) at the Americas Zone Group III Play-Off of the Billie Jean King Cup at the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua on Saturday.
The Anneliese Rose-coached team surrendered a golden opportunity for promotion to the top four teams on Friday when they went down to Barbados (BAR) 2-1. Rose injected herself into the doubles for the first time in the tournament, and it paid huge dividends when her combination with Dookie proved strong enough to get them past the Bajam team of Hannah Chambers/Cherise Slocombe (BAR) in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.
It was the one defeat for the girls after Dookie and Yolande Leacock lost their respective singles matches. The vastly experienced Leacock went under to Gabrielle Leslie 6-1, 6-3, and Dookie, despite her outings abroad to international competitions, was beaten by Barbados' Serena Bryant in three sets 0-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Yesterday, Dookie, who has not had the kind of success in the singles that she was hoping for, made amends by clobbering Meggan William (LCA) 6-3, 6-1 for a 1-0 T&T advantage.
Alexis, who was given the responsibility to contest the other singles ahead of Leacock, proved her coach right by defeating Jessica Eudovic (LCA) 7-6 (7), 6-4 for an unassailable advantage 2-0 to secure the fifth-place finish.
Rose after the tournament congratulated the girls for their effort, saying they gave it their best and they played well and adding: "But now is a time for them to embrace the experience and learn from it. Had we won on Friday against Barbados we would have been playing for promotion.
"I think when we won the doubles on Friday I kept on saying to myself that had we won one more game we would have been through but again, I have been here many times before and I do not want to get into a situation of asking ifs, when and whats," Rose said.
"I have been talking to the girls and trying to sort out what the next step is for us. I think three of the girls could be off to colleges in the United States but we will meet before next year because we don't know who will be on the team and who will not."
Results
Aalisha Alexis (TTO) def Jessica Eudovic (LCA) 7-6 (7), 6-4
Lucia Gallegos (CRC) def Adeola Greatorex (JAM) 7-5, 6-0
Michelle Irigoyen (ESA) def Serena Bryant (BAR) 6-0, 6-2
Jordane Dookie (TTO) def Meggan William (LCA) 6-3, 6-1
Shelby Madeiros (BER) def Tatyana Maduabuchukwu (BAH) 6-2, 6-0
Danielle Thompson (BAH) def Nadhira Durham (BER) 6-0, 6-0
Najah Dawson (JAM) def Nicole Alvaro (CRC) 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5)
Zoe Fisher/Shelby Madeiros (BER) def Danielle Thompson/Tatyana Maduabuchukwu (BAH) 6-3, 7-6 (4)
Hannah Chambers/Cherise Slocombe (BAR) def Sara Valentina Cruz Bonilla/Michelle Irigoyen (ESA) 6-3, 0-6, 11-9
