JACOB Bicknell believes he is the right man to get the final spot on Jamaica’s Davis Cup team, citing his past success and current form as credentials as he seeks to edge out other candidates Nicholas Gore and Jeremy Miller.

The country’s top player Blaise Bicknell, brother of Jacob, along with Rowland “Randy” Phillips, John Chin and Daniel Azar have already been selected for the tournament by Tennis Jamaica.

The Davis Cup play-offs against Estonia, which will be held in Jamaica for the first time in over 10 years, will be held at the Erica Bell Tennis Centre in Kingston from February 4-5.

Jacob, who defeated Damion Johnson in three sets to win his first All Jamaica title recently, said he is most deserving of his place on the national team.

“I was on the previous teams for many years and I am playing at a good level because I just won the All Jamaica title in December, and so I do think that I am deserving of that spot,” said Jacob who is currently living and training in New York.

“It is an honour for me to represent my country and so I would love to do it, especially in Jamaica and in Davis Cup because I love the tournament and with the fact that we will be playing against a very tough team like Estonia,” he said.

Jacob shared that he is in good competitive condition because he has been working hard to ensure that he maintains his fitness levels ahead of the tournament.

“I am in excellent shape right now, and after this Davis Cup tournament finishes I will continue playing tennis because I have a number of tournaments lined up for the US and North America,” said Jacob.

The 23-year-old Jacob, who was part of the team that qualified in Costa Rica in July last year for this play-off, has represented Jamaica four times in Davis Cup competition during his career.

Meanwhile, head coach of Jamaica’s Davis Cup team Mel Spence says Tennis Jamaica will make a decision by the end of the week on which player will be granted the fifth and final spot on the country’s team for next month’s group two play-offs.

Spence confirmed that three players are vying for the final spot, with the All Jamaica champion Jacob being the leading candidate.

“We have looked at the three prospects and I did a report and I sent it to the technical committee that is reviewing it, then they will make a decision after that,” said Spence.

“These are three good prospects… I had a training camp with them after the All Jamaica tournament and they are all in very good shape and in good playing form and they are going to make a strong addition to the team.

“Winning the All Jamaica accounts for a lot but the criteria have 18 points and he [Jacob] has to fill those 18 points; and so it is great that he won it but there are other things on the criteria. [We are] not taking anything away from victory because he played very well and he deserved the win — and that puts him in a very good position [to be selected],” he went on.

— Robert Bailey