Israel Tennis Association challenges ITF ruling

The ITF ruled on Thursday that the tie can’t be held in Tel Aviv due to the security situation.

By ALLON SINAI
Israeli tennis star Dudi Sela (photo credit: REUTERS)
Israeli tennis star Dudi Sela
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Israel Tennis Association appealed the ITF’s decision to move the Davis Cup tie against Argentina away from the country on Friday, demanding that the World Group playoff encounter take place in Haifa or be postponed to October.
The ITF ruled on Thursday that the tie can’t be held in Tel Aviv due to the security situation, with the Davis Cup Committee unanimously agreeing that, “due to concerns arising from the military conflict between Israel and Hamas, it is not advisable at this time for Israel to host Argentina.”
The tie was scheduled for September 12-14 at Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv, and the ITA was given five days to select a neutral venue.
However, the ITA filed an appeal on Friday, which will be reviewed on Tuesday, asking the committee to overturn its decision and find a solution which will allow Israel to host the tie.
The ITA questioned why the ITF ruled that the World Group playoff tie between Ukraine and Belgium could be held in Kiev despite the recent violence in eastern Ukraine, while Israel was barred from hosting its tie at home, even after it suggested to move the encounter from Tel Aviv to Haifa.
After also having its original request to postpone the tie to November 21-23 denied as it would clash with the Davis Cup final, the ITA asked in its appeal to move the tie to October 24-26.
“We call on the ITF to examine its inconsistency regarding its decision in these two cases and request to look into the matter once more in order to bring the tie back to Israel, whether in Tel Aviv or Haifa and whether in September or October 2014,” the ITA wrote in its appeal.
Even should the ITA ’s appeal be turned down, Andy Ram announced that he plans to take part in the tie against Argentina despite initially insisting otherwise.
Ram announced his retirement in April, but planned to join forces with Yoni Erlich one last time in front of the home fans in the doubles match against Argentina. He said earlier last week that he would not play in the tie should it be moved abroad, but claimed otherwise after Thursday’s ruling and now looks set to officially bring his playing career to a close in the Davis Cup.