Colin Sinclair Photo: Supplied
Former Pacific/Oceania Davis Cup captain Jeff Race is confident the Northern Marianas will fare well in its debut in the tennis tournament.
The CNMI will start their Davis Cup - known as the World Cup of Tennis - in the Asia/Oceania Group V, but Race expects the team to advance up to Group IV when the competition unfolds in Bahrain, starting 18 November.
Fifteen nations will compete in Asia/Oceania Group V, including Guam. Two will be promoted to Asia/Oceania Group IV.
In 2024, a record 157 nations entered the Davis Cup. At the top end, the World Group finals will also be played in November.
"Since we have to begin our Davis Cup journey in Group V, I think that we will be very competitive and have a good chance to advance to Group IV if everyone remains healthy," Race said.
ATP Tour veteran and former Pacific/Oceania Davis Cup player Colin Sinclair will lead the charge.
Aside from the 29-year-old, the NMI Davis Cup selection committee has chosen Robbie Schorr, Colin Ramsey, Tomas Abel, and Moris Villanueva (as alternate) to round out the team.
"With his ATP ranking he will be at or close to being one of the top players there," Race said.
Robbie Schorr Photo: Supplied
"Of course, Robbie Schorr is actively playing for William Woods University and just won several gold medals at the Micronesia Games and Pacific Games. We've seen them lead our team to the gold, so we know that they're very tough as a one-two punch."
Race said Ramsey and Abel are the top-ranked CNMI-based players.
Davis Cup CNMI team player Colin Ramsey Photo: Supplied
"Ramsey has played in both the Solomon Games and won gold with Robbie in the Marshall Islands. Tomas has experience playing in both team and individual situations also."
A possible roadblock for the team is lack of practice time together.
Tomas Abel Photo: Supplied
"We will meet in Bahrain a couple of days before the competition begins but we won't all be together until then," Race said.
Sinclair, meanwhile, said he's very excited to represent the CNMI in Davis Cup.
"It will be great to compete with old and new teammates and coach Jeff and hopefully (the CNMI) will get promoted," he said.
"It will be a tough week as there are 15 teams with only two teams going to Group 4. I know the Philippines is coming back after a five-year hiatus so they will be a strong team."
Sinclair said he's been sidelined recently due to a back injury but assured everyone that he'll be back to the grind soon, hoping to play in Cairns, Australia in two weeks.
The top eight Davis Cup teams will chase the 2024 title in Malaga, Spain in November.
In the top half of the draw, defending world champions Italy will play Argentina in the quarterfinals, while USA have been drawn against Australia.
The bottom half of the draw sees 2022 world champions Canada take on Germany, with hosts Spain up against the Netherlands.