Davis Cup heartache for British supporters
LIVERPOOL supermiddleweight Paul Smith is close to tying up a June 20 fight with Andre Ward in California. Smith, 32, has lost back-to-back world title challenges against Arthur Abraham, while Ward, 31, winner of all 27 of his professional fights, will not have fought for 18 months. It is unlikely that the American’s WBA world title will be on the line in the 12-round bout. It will be watched with interest by Carl Froch, who would postpone his retirement for a home rematch with Ward. BRITISH tennis No 3 James Ward could not build on his run through qualifying as he lost to Turkey’s Marsel Ilhan in the first round of the Barcelona Open. Ward, 28, had won two matches in qualifying on the clay but went down 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 6-1 against Ilhan, ranked 22 places higher at 84th in the world. Russian 17-yearold Andrey Rublev, the junior world No 1, upset Fernando Verdasco, world No 37, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3. BRITISH tennis fans face a Wimbledon-type scramble for Davis Cup quarter- final tickets this summer and are likely to end up with less than half the overall allocation.
There will be a capacity of 7,000 for the tie against France at London’s Queen’s Club on July 17-19, but well under 3,000 tickets may be available to the kind of supporters who created such an electric atmosphere in Glasgow for last month’s first round.
The rest will go to various organisations and governing bodies, with a considerable percentage going to well-heeled Queen’s members as part of the deal to play the tie there.
The Lawn Tennis Association acceded to the wishes of Andy Murray and GB captain Leon Smith (right) to play the tie on grass, which they feel enhances their chances. Wimbledon was not an option as the tie begins five days after the end of the Championships.
Sponsors plus organisations such as the LTA have to be catered for, as well as Queen’s members. As few as 2,500 tickets could reach the public. ‘We have obligations to certain groups within the tennis family,’ said an LTA spokesman.
Murray has an affinity for the venue, having won the AEGON title there three times. Currently practising in Spain before beginning his clay court campaign, he may be called upon to play doubles as well as
two singles matches.