Jamaica’s hope dashed as Bicknell bows out of ATP Kingston 2 tennis tournament

KINGSTON, Jamaica  —  Jamaica’s Blaise Bicknell was eliminated from the ATP Kingston 2 lawn tennis tournament, crashing 6-3, 5-7, 2-6 to Spain’s Ivan Curbelo at the Liguanea Club on Tuesday night.

Bicknell won the first set 6-3 and Curbelo won the second 7-5 after one hour and 45 minutes but the third and deciding set was a no-contest as Curbelo raced into the 3-0 lead and never looked back, winning 6-2.

Bicknell and Curbelo both started well, holding their serves, but while leading 4-3, Bicknell broke Curbelo for the first time and took a 5-3 lead and served for the set, wrapping up his game emphatically at 6-3.

But Curbelo broke Bicknell early and led 4-1 in the second set before Bicknell rallied to break back and served to tie the game at 4-4. Both held serve at 5-5, but Curbelo saved two game points and took a 6-5 lead.

Bicknell was now serving to stay in the set but was broken again and Curbelo won 7-5 and forced a third set.

Unlike the first two sets, the third set was not close, as Curbelo raced away to victory, breaking Bicknell twice and taking a 5-1 lead. Bicknell broke back at 2-5, but again he failed to hold serve, broke and lost 2-6. Curbelo booked his spot into the last 16.

Bicknell was the last Jamaican in action as both John Chin and Nicholas Gore were eliminated in the last few days.

— Howard Walker