Tennis: Argentina tie thrown into doubt due to security situation

Argentina Tennis Association president, Arturo Grimaldi, approached the ITF requesting that the matches be played away from Israel.

By ALLON SINAI
Tennis player Dudi Sela 370 (photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Tennis player Dudi Sela 370
(photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
The International Tennis Federation is considering moving Israel’s Davis Cup World Group playoff tie against Argentina, which is scheduled to be played at Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv over the weekend of September 12-14, due to the ongoing rocket fire from Gaza.
Even though the tie will only take place in seven weeks, Argentina Tennis Association president, Arturo Grimaldi, approached the ITF requesting that the matches be played away from Israel due to the security situation in the country.
Grimaldi said in an interview in Argentina that the ITF told him it would make a decision until Friday.
“There are two possibilities. That Israel gives up home advantage and we do the same when we meet again in the future, or that the tie is moved to Greece or Cyprus,” explained Grimaldi. “Ideally we would like to play in Buenos Aires, but it’s a long shot. The ITF does not usually make such decisions, so we will wait until Friday and if we are told to go to Tel Aviv, we will accept the decision.”
The Israel Tennis Association has been approached on the matter by the ITF, but was told that a final decision will not be made for at least two more weeks.
The security situation is also causing a real headache for the organizers of the ATP tournament in Ramat Hasharon, which is scheduled to start on September 15.
The final date to register for the event is next week, but the organizers have asked the ATP to extend player registration by several weeks, hoping that by that time Operation Protective Edge will have ended.
In other tennis news, Shahar Pe’er advanced on Wednesday to her first WTA Tour quarterfinal since April, beating Vesna Dolonc 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the second round in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Pe’er, ranked No. 90 in the world, will next face the winner of the match between No. 1 seed Sorana Cirstea (29) and Switzerland’s Stefanie Voegele (72). The Israeli’s most recent appearance in the last eight of a tournament was in Marrakech, Morocco in late April. Pe’er is aiming to emulate her performance in Baku from last year when she reached the final.
Israel’s Julia Glushko (102) will play Francesca Schiavone (75) for a place in the quarterfinals in Baku on Thursday.
Dudi Sela (94) faced Sam Querrey (61) in the second round of the ATP tournament in Atlanta late Wednesday.


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