NZ to host Uruguay but venue a mystery
New Zealand are to host Uruguay in the Davis Cup, but the current border restrictions rule out any chance of it being played on home soil.
The World Group I playoff tie against the South Americans is scheduled for March 4-5 and as the two countries have never played each other, lots were drawn to select the host nation.
This was won by New
Zealand. However, with the Government not opening the border to non Kiwis due to Covid-19, until April 30, there’s no possibility of it being played on home soil.
For the tie against South
Korea in September, which New Zealand were also supposed to host, it was moved to Newport, US, for the same reason, with the Kiwis losing 3-1.
Tennis New Zealand chief executive Julie Paterson said they’re looking at options with what to do with the Uruguay tie.
‘‘What we’ve done is ask the ITF for an extension so that we can gather our thoughts, which they have approved,’’ Paterson said.
‘‘So we will have to let them know by mid December where we’ll be hosting the event.
‘‘We know we’re not going to be able to host it in New Zealand, because the ITF won’t allow a host nation to have any sort of MIQ restrictions. So we are considering our options.’’
Tennis New Zealand could allow Uruguay to host the tie, giving them home court advantage, or look for a neutral venue around the world again.
It will be an incredibly tough tie for New Zealand to win, wherever it’s played.
In the Uruguayan team will be Pablo Cuevas, who has won six ATP singles titles and the French Open in doubles.
The 35-year-old is down to 98 in the current singles rankings, but to put that into perspective, New Zealand didn’t field any players with world singles rankings when they lost to South Korea three months ago.