Duke, Carter to clash in Davis Cup trials final

TOBAGO’S Akiel Duke and teenager Aidan Carter remained unbeaten with another two wins at the Davis Cup trials yesterday, setting up a virtual final when the two meet this morning for their penultimate match at the National Racquet Centre, Tacarigua.

Duke and Carter were among four players who became immediate favourites for national team selection as Anya King and Soisette Simmons also remained unbeaten and on top of the round-robin standings for the Fed Cup trials, which are taking place simultaneously at the same venue.

A clear leader in the eight-player Davis Cup trials round-robin will be found when Duke and Carter meet at 9 am. The pair met in the men’s singles final of the Tranquillity Open earlier this year with Carter defeating the top seed 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

Carter started his day with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Nabeel Mohammed before ending with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Mahase.

Duke, meanwhile, secured an unopposed 6-0, 6-0 win over Scott Hackshaw, and later secured a 6-3, 7-5 result over Chung. Duke will play Mahase in his last match, while Carter takes on Chung.

The two unbeaten women, King and Simmons, will clash at 9 am this morning to determine the Fed Cup trials group winner.

King, who has not lost a set in the tournament, defeated Abigail Jones 6-3, 6-3 in their only match yesterday. Simmons defeated win-less Victoria Koylass 6-2, 6-1.

In yesterday’s other results, Mohammed beat Nkrumah Patrick, 6-4, 7-6 (4), while Chung got past Adam Ramkissoon 6-1, 6-4. Yin Lee Assang breezed past Koylass, 6-1, 6-0, in the Fed Cup trials.

The top three players in the round-robin standings for the Davis Cup will be provisionally selected, along with a reserve, while the top women’s player and a reserve will be selected from the Fed Cup trials.