Davis Cup tie at risk

ADVANCING TO GROUP I may already prove bittersweet for Barbados tennis.

One week after earning the right to hold next year’s opening Davis Cup tie at home, Barbados face the possibility of forfeiting the chance to host the Dominican Republic due to the lack of seating capacity at the National Tennis Centre.

To stage Group I matches, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) generally recommends a venue that can seat 4 000 people, but according to Barbados Tennis Association vice president Sandra Osborne, their facility has only been able to accommodate 430 at most so far and that was already with additional seating.

“We will do everything within our power and resources to avoid giving up the opportunity to host the tie [because] home court advantage has really worked for us in Group II with victories over the last two years against Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Chile, El Salvador and most recently Mexico,” said Osborne.