January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Manders calls for change in Argus Open
Bermuda’s top players will be away at Caribbean Games and will miss tournament
Manders calls for change in Argus Open
Manders who believes his 6-3, 6-3 victory in Saturday's Island Construction Open confirms his position as Bermuda's top player, could be forced to miss the next major tournament - the Argus Open - unless officials change the schedule.
Manders, Jenson Bascome and David Thomas are scheduled to leave Bermuda on July 9 to compete in the inaugural Caribbean Games- two days before the finals.
But the 23-year-old has warned that going ahead without three of the top four would ruin the tournament and has asked for the men's singles to be pushed forward to allow them to compete.
Number one
"The number one ranking is very important to me and I should be allowed to defend it.
"Why should I be punished for representing my country?
"It's pretty much a given what would happen in that tournament if we were not able to compete - they might as well say 'here you go, Andy - have another one'.
"We're trying to get it sorted out now and at least have the men's singles moved forward. I'm sure the sponsors will be on our side, they won't want to have a tournament without three of the top four."
Manders, who has beaten Bray in three of their last four encounters, feels he has already done enough to establish himself in the top spot.
But after missing the Bermuda Open earlier this year he is keen to play in all the 'majors' and be officially ranked as the island's number one at the end of the season.
"You have to have a goal in sports and it is my aim to win the Government Sports Award this season - you can't do that unless you're number one in the country."
Manders overcame Bascome in an epic three-hour semi-final on Thursday before going on to beat Bray in a rain-interrupted final on Saturday morning.
He said he had almost needed to go to hospital suffering from severe cramps after his clash with Bascome.
"I'm really confident in my own game right now. I feel I'm mentally strong and I've proven myself to be number one. I don't mean any disrespect to Andy or Jenson, they are both great players and it is really competitive right now." He said he had already brought up the Argus issue with the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association and tournament organizers and hoped a solution could be found.
He added that playing in the tournament would provide invaluable match practice for Bermuda's players ahead of the Caribbean Games in Trinidad.
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