Tennis: Israel hopes to ‘host’ Argentina in Florida

Israel Tennis Association nominates Sunrise, Florida and Nicosia, Cyprus as possible alternatives for playoff match.

By ALLON SINAI
Israeli tennis star Dudi Sela. (photo credit: REUTERS)
Israeli tennis star Dudi Sela.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Sunrise, Florida, was nominated on Thursday by the Israel Tennis Association as its first alternative to host the Davis Cup World Group playoff tie against Argentina after the encounter was moved from Israel due to the security situation.
The ITA also submitted Nicosia, Cyprus, as its second option, with the ITF, International tennis’s governing body, to make the final decision regarding the venue of the tie in the upcoming days.
The ITA had until Thursday to notify the ITF where it intends to host Argentina over the weekend of September 12-14 after its appeal against moving the tie abroad was rejected on Tuesday.
In its appeal, the ITA suggested that the tie be postponed to October or moved to Haifa after the ITF had ruled two weeks ago that it can’t be held in Tel Aviv due to the conflict with Hamas.
The ITF claimed that it was its “duty to ensure the safety of players, officials and spectators, and that there was a lack of certainty as to the security situation in Israel at the date of the tie.”