JAMAICA’S International Tennis Federation (ITF) umpire Simon Casserly has been selected to officiate as umpire at the 2017 Davis Cup Group 2 Tennis final tie between hosts Barbados and Venezuela, which begins today in Bridgetown.

The Jamaican, who has officiated in several international tournaments, is on his third overseas Davis Cup assignment for the ITF Group 2.

He also umpired at the Barbados and Guatemala semi-finals earlier in April. Barbados won the tie 3-2 to advance to the final, which will be played over three days.

The winning team from this Davis Cup tennis final tie will be promoted to the prestigious Group 1.

Casserly said he is very pleased to be given this opportunity to be one of two chair umpires for the match.

“I became a certified ITF white badge umpire in 2002. It is really, however, a great honour for me as the ITF was very impressed on my performance duty at the Barbados versus Guatemala tie,” Casserly said.

“Jamaica has a few white badge umpires, but Trinidad and Tobago) has the majority, as not much top-class tournaments are being played in Jamaica or other parts of the Caribbean,” he added.

— Gerald Reid