Tennis: Chile still planning to host Israel despite quake

By ALLON SINAI, AP
Chile is still planning to host its Davis Cup tie this weekend against Israel despite the devastating earthquake that has killed at least 700 people in the South American country.
Singles player Nicolas Massu arrived on Monday from Miami and expressedconcern for the Chilean people but said he was ready to play.
Jose Hinzpeter, president of the Chile tennis federation, also said hewants the series in the northern port town of Coquimbo, which sufferedlittle damage from the quake, to go ahead as scheduled, starting onFriday.
Israel captain Eyal Ran, coach Noam Behr and players Dudi Sela, HarelLevy and Yoni Erlich were making their way to the capital of Chile,Santiago, from Dallas, Texas on Saturday when the earthquake struck andtheir flight was diverted to Miami.
The players trained in Florida for a couple of days, but finallydeparted for Chile overnight, flying first to Argentina before taking aprivate jet, paid for by the International Tennis Federation, to asmall airport near Coquimbo.
Andy Ram, who traveled to Chile separately, has been in Santiago byhimself since Sunday, but will finally team-up with his teammates onTuesday.