Bicknell better prepared for round two

National tennis player Blaise Bicknell says he is well prepared for today’s match against Spanish opponent Ivan Curbelo in the Kingston Open, an ATP Challenger tournament being staged at the Liguanea Club in Kingston. Match time is 7 p.m.

Bicknell, ranked 373rd in the world, will take on the 354th-ranked Curbelo in what is expected to be an exciting encounter.

The 24-year-old Jamaican is coming off a three-set defeat to Australia’s Max Purcell in the round of 32 during last week’s first staging of the tournament.

However, Bicknell said he is looking forward to the challenge against Curbelo.

“I am feeling good and I think it is going to be a great match, and I am looking forward to it,” said Bicknell.

“It is going to be a tough match-up, but I think that with the home crowd, I can give myself the best chance to win. I feel well prepared and I think it is going to be a great match,” he said.

Bicknell added that he knows very little about his opponent heading into today’s contest but is prepared for a tough battle.

“I know that he is a Spanish player and he is a very solid player, and I know that I am going to have to play well to win,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Sunday’s qualifying-round action, Nicholas Gore suffered a 6-0, 6-1 defeat to Canada’s Dan Martin.