STATE TENNNIS associations representing Delhi and Karnataka have separately declared their readiness to host the Davis Cup Qualifiers in February next year, when Team India take on a formidable Netherlands squad.
The tie is likely to be played on hard courts.
Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) president Rohit Rajpal, who is also India’s Davis Cup captain, has expressed interest in hosting the tie in the national capital.
“We will be interested, definitely we are going to bid for this,” Sportstar quotes Rajpal as having said.
Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association joint secretary Sunil Yajman confirmed to Sportstar that KSLTA is also interested in hosting the tie.
“If AITA (All India Tennis Association) gives us the opportunity, we would love to host this Davis Cup tie,” said Yajman.
As per the process, AITA will ask its state units about interest in hosting the tie. If multiple states express interest, the decision will be made as per the players’ choice of surface.
For the record, India advanced to the Qualifiers stage after upstaging Switzerland 3-1 in a rare overseas success in World Group I in September, while the Dutch team lost by the same margin to Argentina in the second round of the Qualifiers.
The Qualifiers 1st Round will take place on February 6-7 or 7-8, with home nations having the choice of dates. The draw was made on Sunday evening.
The last time the two teams competed in the Davis Cup was in 2003, when the Netherlands thumped India 5-0 at home. The overall head-to-head record stands at 2-2.
