UPTA wants to hold Davis Cup tie

The Uttar Pradesh Tennis Association has asked the All India Tennis Association to allow it to host the India-Australia Davis Cup tie at the Tennis Complex in Noida, reports Sharad Deep.

The Uttar Pradesh Tennis Association (UPTA) has asked the All India Tennis Association (AITA) to allow it to host the India-Australia Davis Cup tie at the Tennis Complex in Noida.

The Indian players want to play the tie, starting May 8, on hard courts rather than the traditional grass courts against a tough team like Australia.

UPTA secretary CP Kackar confirmed he had approached AITA secretary-general Anil Khanna. "We are hopeful of getting a chance to host the important tie in Noida," said Kackar.

The UPTA has hosted five Davis Cup ties in the past with the India-Lebanon tie at Lucknow in 2000 being the last one. Prior to that, it had hosted India's ties against Thailand (1962), Sri Lanka (1971), Japan (1974) and New Zealand (1975). "We have developed synthetic courts in Noida and that's the perfect venue to host the India-Australia tie," said Kackar.

Meanwhile, a top AITA official said the hosts should take full advantage of playing at home.