JAMAICA’S Davis Cup Head Coach Noel Rutherford believes the team’s current form gives him extreme confidence as they look to beat Uruguay in their two-day World Group Two Qualifiers starting today at the Liguanea Club in Kingston.

Led by the country’s number one-ranked Blaise Bicknell, Jamaica are aiming to qualify for the Davis Cup Group Two for the first time in two years, having lost to Barbados in 2024 and New Zealand in 2025, both at the Eric Bell National Tennis Centre in Kingston. Jamaica’s last success at this stage came in 2023 when they got the better of Estonia.

Though five games are scheduled following Friday’s draw, the first team to win three matches will secure the overall tie.

Veteran Rowland “Randy” Phillips, who recently returned from retirement, will begin the country’s campaign as he takes on Franco Roncadelli in the opening singles game at 11 am, before Bicknell battles Joaquin Aguilar Cardozo.

Jamaica’s pair of Daniel Azar and Nicholas Gore are set to challenge Uruguay’s Roncadelli and Cardozo in the doubles on Sunday.

If necessary, Bicknell and Phillips will play each other’s opponents from day one on Sunday.

Though weary of the Uruguayans, Rutherford believes his team has what it takes to get the job done.

“[Uruguay] just came down from Group Two so they don’t want to stay here, for sure. So, they’re going to give everything,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“Blaise is hitting extremely well, and when Blaise is on he can beat anyone. He has a massive forehand, he has a massive serve, and his confidence is through the roof. Randy, I don’t have to tell you much about Randy because he’s going to give everything he’s got so, hopefully, we’ll go 2-0 up. The first match is important — you win the first match and it boosts the second match, it gives them a lot of confidence. And we have the crowd behind us, so that is important, and I think we just have to hope for the best that the guys are on this weekend and make Jamaica proud.”

Rutherford believes the team’s chemistry is the best it’s ever been, having worked through prior issues.

“I remember a year and a half ago, you remember what was going on with this everlasting back and forth with who should be on the team. Now? That has not been the case and I’m very happy,” he said.

“It’s one Jamaica, one flag, and the same goal, so everybody’s working towards the same thing — and that’s a good thing. The team is structured properly, and I think we just have to hope that that they go this weekend and they come up with the result that we really hope for.”

Last year the tie went to the wire as Jamaica went down 2-3 to New Zealand. The Jamaican team came from behind twice to level the series at 2-2 but Phillips, despite winning the first set 6-3, went down 3-6 3-6 to John Loutit, which promoted the Kiwis to Group Two.

Jamaica’s top-ranked tennis player Blaise Bicknell (Photos: Joseph Wellington)