National tennis players Blaise Bicknell and Rowland “Randy” Phillips say they are expecting a tough contest when they battle a Caribbean Allstars team in the King Alarm Cup, which will be played at the Eric Bell Centre from December 15-17 in Kingston.

The Jamaican team, which also consist of John Chin and Daniel Azar, will be using the matches as part of their preparations for the Davis Cup Group Two play-off tie against Estonia, which will be played in Kingston from February 4-5.

The Caribbean professional team includes Darian King from Barbados, who was ranked 108 in the world in 2017. The other players are Michael Major, Matthew Estwick, and Justin Roberts, all from The Bahamas.

“It is going to be very tough for us because these guys are world ranked players and the best from their countries,” Bicknell, who is ranked No 1 in Jamaica, and 762 in the world, said. “It is going to be a real battle between us and them in this tournament.

“I think that it will be some great matches for the fans to see and I am just hoping that the fans will come out and support us throughout this tournament.

“I have been training a lot at school and now I am back in Jamaica now also training as well. I have trained under the lights at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre and it has been great, so I am fit and ready to go.

“These matches are very important in our build for the Davis Cup next year and we are looking forward to them. I know that everyone is ready to go out there and put on a good showing in front of our home fans.”

Phillips says that he has been in good form going into this event and is expecting some exciting games against their opponents.

“I am feeling very confident,” he said. “I feel very fit and I am playing good and I know that Blaise is always training and improving,” Phillips said. “His results have been really good lately and so definitely, I think we are going to do well.”

Phillips said that he knows his opponents well and is well aware of their style of play.

“I am friends with these guys because I have seen them at a lot of tournaments and I am looking forward to seeing them as well as competing against them,” he said. “It is a little bit of both sides, but I know that it is going to be a war between us and them.

“This will be perfect for us to get some real good matches in front of the Jamaica crowd and get used to how it is going to feel in February.”