Bahamian junior tennis player Jacobi Bain is back home in The Bahamas after playing in a number of tennis tournaments in Europe this summer. He is looking forward to continuing his progression. (Photo: File)
Bahamian junior tennis standout Jacobi Bain has shown tremendous progression this season, moving up over 600 points in the Tennis Europe Rankings for under-14 boys.
Bain played in seven tournaments throughout Europe this summer, with mixed results, and is now tied with eight others as the number 152nd ranked player in the world in the under-14 category. He played in 23 matches in singles, compiling a 14-9 win/loss record, and was 12-6 in doubles.
Back home for a short stint before returning to his training base in Bradenton, Florida, young Bain hopes to crack the top 100 by the time the new rankings come out in January.
"My time in Europe was very good. I met people from all over the world and I felt I was able to progress in my game," he said. "It feels good to be home. To move up like that in the rankings was pretty good. I felt like I could have moved up a bit further, but I'm satisfied. I improved my forearm a lot, and I'm continuing to get better. Between that and my serve, I feel that is the part of my game that I need to work on the most."
Bain was constantly on the move this year, playing in France, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria and Germany, in 14s and 16s singles and doubles. He is the highest ranked Bahamian in both age groups worldwide. He said that jet lag sometimes plays a factor, especially with some of the tournaments being so close together, but added that he feels good and is just looking to continue to progress.
Bain, 13, spent six weeks on the tour last year, did about four months this year, and is looking to extend that to six months next year. He does online schooling through Miami Connections - an on-campus, half-day alternative school program that assists local ninth and 10th graders.
"I just want to do as well as I can," said Bain. "It's a lot of work, doing tennis and my school work, but I'm prepared for it, and so far, it's going well."
Bain's father and local coach Bradley Bain said that he's pleased with the progression.
"He did really well this year," said the elder Bain. "He was able to hold his own in Europe and that says a lot. The opportunity to travel and play some of the best players in Europe could only help his game, and that is exactly what has been happening. He has a very good foundation, and he was able to win a number of matches. That has certainly helped him to move up the rankings."
As a result of his impressive win/loss record, playing both singles and doubles, young Bain was able to earn major tennis ranking points in Europe this summer. After a short stay at home, he'll return to his training base in Bradenton, Florida, under the watchful eyes of Romanian coach Doru Murariu. He'll then prepare for the International Tennis Federation's (ITF) Bahamas Goombay Splash in November, the Eddie Herr International Junior Championship, and the Junior Orange Bowl.
At the beginning of the year, he intends to return to Europe to take part in the Les Petits As Junior Tennis Tournament in Tarbes, France. It is one of the biggest tournaments in the world for young tennis players (12-14).
"Points in Europe are not easy to get - the competition is so fierce because you are going up against the best tennis players in the world," said dad Bradley Bain.
"If Jacobi could have the same level of progress that he showed this summer, he could be in the top 20 next year. Every match that you play in Europe is highly competitive. They are very big tournaments, and you are able to get big points from those tournaments. Playing in those tournaments forces you to concentrate and stay focussed, and it forces you to raise the level of your game. The most important thing right now is the development of his skill set - forehand, backhand and so forth. Also, he will learn a lot through match play and match experience."
Bradley Bain said that he is looking forward to his son coming home this November and playing in the Bahamas Goombay Splash - a recognized and sanctioned ITF junior international tournament.
"All of his preparation is geared toward that right now," he said. "We want to take advantage of this five-year window in the under-18 category. Jacobi is really ahead of the curve - that's why he is able to go to Europe and play with some of the best players in the world. On this side, he will be playing mostly 18s because at that level, he will find players who will be able to push him. He has done a good job in terms of improving his skill set, and we look for him to continue to improve."
Bain's best performance this summer was a quarter-final appearance in singles, and a semi-final appearance in doubles.
At his last tournament, the Jugend Cup Renningen/Rutesheim International Deutsche Tennismeisterschaften U16 in Rutesheim, Germany, Bain lost in the third round in singles to the fourth seeded player, Kristian Kubik of the Czech Republic, 6-2 and 6-2; and in doubles, he and partner Fedor Richter, of Germany, advanced all the way to the semi-finals before falling to the eighth seeded Bulgarian pair of Alex Ganchev and Anthony Genov, 6-4 and 6-1.
Sheldon Longley, Guardian Sports Editor
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