HEAD coach of Jamaica’s tennis team Mel Spence believes that the country’s players will put on a good show at this month’s Caribbean and Central America (CAC) Games, despite the fact that they will be coming up against some of the world’s top-ranked players.

The Jamaican team will be led by the country’s number one player Blaise Bicknell and John Chin, who is Jamaica’s number two-rated player.

Spence told the Jamaica Observer that both players have been doing great this season, therefore he is expecting them to represent the country well at the championships.

“I think that their chances are great because they are both playing great tennis and they are both competing in professional tournaments right now, leading up to the games, so they should be ready,” said Spence.

“I think it is always an honour to represent your country and as these guys did in the Davis Cup, and so this is a stepping stone towards the Carifta Games and then the Olympic Games — so this tournament is huge for these young men.

“Blaise got to the semi-finals of a Future tournament in the United States two weeks ago and he is now playing in a tournament in California. John Chin is in the Dominican Republic playing in a Future tournament right now and so they are playing good tennis leading up to the CAC Games,” he added.

Bicknell, who has been the country’s top-ranked player over the past four years, is currently rated 832 in the world while Chin is currently ranked 1,017 in the world. Both players are expected to lead Jamaica’s charge against host Lebanon in their ITF Davis Cup Group Two play-offs in September.

Spence pointed out that the CAC Games will be valuable match practice for Blaise and Chin because they will face some very highly ranked opponents at the championships.

“Yes, you are going to have world-ranked players in this tournament, and players all the way up to [200] and 300 in the world so the competition is going to be tough, but I know that they will put on some great performances at the championships,” he said.

“This tournament is probably a level better than our Davis Cup Group Two tie against Lebanon in September. However, this is another great opportunity to spread their wings and get some more experience, and get some good practice leading up to their Davis Cup tie against Lebanon in September,” Spence ended.