[ReggieRed]

From Tennis Australia Media


Saturday 25 April, 2009


Australia will not go to Chennai


Australia will not go to Chennai for the Davis Cup tie against India next month, Tennis Australia announced today.

The decision follows the International Tennis Federation board’s rejection overnight of a Tennis Australia appeal to shift the tie out of India because of security concerns.

“We asked for the tie to be moved because we have major security concerns for the players, particularly during the election,” Tennis Australia president Geoff Pollard explained.

“The ITF decision has left us with no other option,” Mr Pollard said. “We cannot send the team. It is extremely disappointing.”

“It would be irresponsible of us to send our players into an area of such high risk. Davis Cup is very important to us but some things are more important than tennis,” he said.

Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald said he was angry and upset with the ITF decision.

“It is just irresponsible. Surely some thought must be given to the players’ safety.

“I believe they say the election is not a cause for concern, the IPL moving is not relevant and that an ATP tournament held in January shows it is safe to play in Chennai.

“So what about the fact that dozens of people are being killed along the campaign trail of the election? A train was hijacked this week, but that does not alter their thoughts? Did the IPL move for no reason,” Fitzgerald asked.

“The ATP event involved no national teams and was held three months prior to the election. This decision makes no sense. We have worked so hard to get back in to World Group contention, to have it snatched away like this is gut wrenching,” he said.

Fitzgerald said the players shared his disappointment and still hoped for an ITF change of heart prior to May 8.

[FelixQY]

[v74ClzKY]

I don't know much about the situation. But I'm inclined to support the decision of Tennis Australia.

[Flatlytaize]

I have no idea what to think about this one. I'm totally ignorant of the situation.

Paging rabbit.

[GogaMegaPiska]

I have no idea what to think about this one. I'm totally ignorant of the situation.

Paging rabbit.

I agree. I'm not sure how dangerous it is. It may be overkill but if there is a reasonable chance of danger then Tennis Australia is making the right decision. Safety over tennis. And I love tennis.

[anderriter]

I have no idea what to think about this one. I'm totally ignorant of the situation.

Paging rabbit.

I am not sure either. The train hijacking was in a rural part of India, and there was no violence involved. And the elections have not been going unusually roughly.

But Australia is probably acting sensibly. Maybe they even have some additional intelligence.

[Kimeoffessyr]

i am pretty ignorant on this topic. but a part of me thinks the itf surely must have thought the decision through. what they are saying the region is relatively safe and any extremists have no particular beef against the australians which would make them a specific target for any attacks.

i almost think well why doesn't a serb player or a croat or a greek etc not play the australian open, look at the clashes that have gone on there recently? they too could point to security concerns at a tennis venue.

having lived in australia for a couple of years it sounds a little hypocritical or trying to take a moral high-horse. no venue anywhere in the world could give the australians a 100% guarantee of safety. be it india, indonesia, australia, usa etc etc

[PyncGyncliacy]

i am pretty ignorant on this topic. but a part of me thinks the itf surely must have thought the decision through. what they are saying the region is relatively safe and any extremists have no particular beef against the australians which would make them a specific target for any attacks.

i almost think well why doesn't a serb player or a croat or a greek etc not play the australian open, look at the clashes that have gone on there recently? they too could point to security concerns at a tennis venue.

having lived in australia for a couple of years it sounds a little hypocritical or trying to take a moral high-horse. no venue anywhere in the world could give the australians a 100% guarantee of safety. be it india, indonesia, australia, usa etc etc

Off-topic: Wow, Giorgina, you've lived everywhere!

[berdyanskdotsu]

i am pretty ignorant on this topic. but a part of me thinks the itf surely must have thought the decision through. what they are saying the region is relatively safe and any extremists have no particular beef against the australians which would make them a specific target for any attacks.

i almost think well why doesn't a serb player or a croat or a greek etc not play the australian open, look at the clashes that have gone on there recently? they too could point to security concerns at a tennis venue.

having lived in australia for a couple of years it sounds a little hypocritical or trying to take a moral high-horse. no venue anywhere in the world could give the australians a 100% guarantee of safety. be it india, indonesia, australia, usa etc etc

I tend to agree with you. Madrid was discarded to organize the Olympics in 2012 because of safety concerns right after the massacre in Madrid. London was chosen and only a few days later London underground was attacked. There is no such thing as a safe place in the world right now.

[Flatlytaize]

Somehow this nightmare scenario goes through my head.
The Aussies go to Chenai, and play a tough series against India. During the three days the crowd cheers both squads equally and behave in a manner that would make the British House of Lords look like a bunch of drunken hooligans. They are rewarded with a thrilling five rubber series, won by Australia gallantly 9-7 on the fifth set of the last match. The crowd applauds both teams, and everybody congratulates each other for a beautiful series.
Then the Aussies decide to celebrate with a Barbecue and all hell breaks loose.
(And Sania waits on them wearing a mini skirt)

[anderriter]

i am pretty ignorant on this topic. but a part of me thinks the itf surely must have thought the decision through. what they are saying the region is relatively safe and any extremists have no particular beef against the australians which would make them a specific target for any attacks.

i almost think well why doesn't a serb player or a croat or a greek etc not play the australian open, look at the clashes that have gone on there recently? they too could point to security concerns at a tennis venue.

having lived in australia for a couple of years it sounds a little hypocritical or trying to take a moral high-horse. no venue anywhere in the world could give the australians a 100% guarantee of safety. be it india, indonesia, australia, usa etc etc

I agree. It reeks of over-reaction. And it is really sad for the Indian team, who have been preparing hard for this exciting matchup for months now. The All India Tennis Association have also supposedly taken lots of extra security measures to address Australian concerns. It is definitely unfair to India (and also to the Australian players).

I mean it would make sense if they have some extra specific information that the Australian tennis team is under threat. Otherwise, I don't know what to say...

[RicyReetred]

Somehow this nightmare scenario goes through my head.
The Aussies go to Chenai, and play a tough series against India. During the three days the crowd cheers both squads equally and behave in a manner that would make the British House of Lords look like a bunch of drunken hooligans. They are rewarded with a thrilling five rubber series, won by Australia gallantly 9-7 on the fifth set of the last match. The crowd applauds both teams, and everybody congratulates each other for a beautiful series.
Then the Aussies decide to celebrate with a Barbecue and all hell breaks loose.
(And Sania waits on them wearing a mini skirt)

Why aren't Mahesh and Leander busboys and beggars in your idiotic imperialistic "nightmare"?

Just so you know, beef is readily available in most high end hotels, it certainly would be in any hotel the Australians would have stayed in. And no, there aren't daily riots over beef being served in these restaurants and hotels.

[Penisvergroesserung]

Were they planning on playing in Kashmir? If not, I'm inclined to think of this as a bit of an over reaction. Remember when a few commercial airplanes were crashing into things in the USA, and London buses were getting blown up, and mobs of disenfranchised muslim people were rioting just outside paris? I'm pretty sure all the slams happened that year. There is an inherent risk to anything you do, you do your best to stay safe and hope for the best. This is the world we live in today. Just wait til the Taliban takes over Pakistan, that's when things will be be really scary between India and Pakistan. kaboom!!!

[exsmoker]

I also think it's an overreaction, but then again I understand players too. Why take any extra risk at all just to play a low level Davis cup tie?

[freddystone]

Okay. I'll say it.

I'm about as paranoid as it gets when it comes to safety. I flipped out a few days back when President Obama asked after a news conference, "Who's wallet is this?" It was sitting there on the podium the whole time during his remarks. I worry about everything.

But as it relates to this, while there may be some legitimate safety concerns, why is Tennis Australia always in the middle of this stuff? A few years back, they didn't want to go to Argentina because of security concerns. Now this. I think they worry more than I do about such things. And THAT's bad. Nobody worries more about such things than I do.

P.S.--Just as a point of clarification, I'm not talking about political turmoil in Argentina. That concern was never cited by Tennis Australia that I saw. They were more concerned about fans throwing bottles at players, etc. Still perhaps a valid concern, though.