Davis Cup Tennis: Israel/Sweden tie may move to Stockholm for fans

Stockholm may replace Malmo as host city after original venue decided it would ban spectators due to security reasons; Dudi Sela up 21 places to world number 65.

By ALLON SINAI
Dudi Sela 248.88 (photo credit: AP)
Dudi Sela 248.88
(photo credit: AP)
Israel's Davis Cup World Group first round tie in Sweden next weekend may be played in front of local fans after all. Stockholm may replace Malmo as host city of the match, the Swedish Tennis Association said on Monday, after the original venue decided that it would ban spectators due to security reasons. The secretary general of the Swedish Tennis Association, Henrik Kallen, said that Stockholm had offered to step in as an alternative venue for the March 6-8 tie. Several anti-Israeli demonstrations were planned in Malmo during the best-of-five series. City of Stockholm spokeswoman Anna Waglund-Soderstrom said officials are investigating all aspects of moving the match and will make a decision shortly. In other Israeli tennis news, Dudi Sela jumped 21 places to number 65 in the world on Monday, his highest ranking since June of last year, after reaching the semifinals in Memphis last week. Sela plays in Delray Beach this week and will face Philipp Petzschner of Germany in the first round. Shahar Pe'er fell five places to No. 49 in the WTA rankings, with Tzipi Obziler climbing five spots to No. 174 in the world. Also Monday, the Israel Tennis Center announced that the Israel Open Challenger tournament, which will take place during the Center's tennis festival at the start of May, will be named after and held in memory of Sgt. Lior Vishinsky, who was one of five IDF soldiers killed in Gaza on May 12, 2004 when their armored personnel carrier exploded. AP contributed to this report