Melbourne, April 19 (Inditop) Tennis Australia (TA) Sunday confirmed that it would challenge the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) decision to retain Chennai as the host for the India-Australia Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group I tie.
Security fears prompted TA last month to request ITF to move the tie to a neutral venue after the Mumbai terrorist attacks and the ambush of the Sri Lankan cricketers.
But the ITF announced Saturday the playoff would go ahead as scheduled in Chennaif May 8-10 following “a positive report from the ITF’s security consultants” on the safety of the venue.
TA said it will lodge its appeal against the decision Monday, still hopeful of having the tie moved.
Amid fears, Australia’s star Davis Cupper Lleyton Hewitt could opt out of the tie. Hewitt’s manager David Drysdale said Hewitt is awaiting the outcome of TA’s appeal before making his next move.
“We talked about it and we’re waiting to see what TA’s result is, but I don’t think he’s ready to make any comments,” Drysdale was quoted as saying in The Australian.
“We should hear something in the next 48 hours and I think, like all players, he’ll make a decision then – if a decision needs to be made.”
The winner of the tie will qualify for World Group play-off.
rounak