Tennis News: Davis Cup - AITA may request ITF for neutral venue

The Davis Cup tie between India and Pakistan, scheduled to be held next month - September 14-15 - in Islamabad, seems to have run into rough weather due to the fresh political tension between the two countries. With rising diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and India it is believed that the All India Tennis Association may approach the International Tennis Federation asking them to re-evaluate the situation ahead of the upcoming Davis Cup tie in September. Tensions between the two nations have escalated soon after India’s move revoking Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and splitting the state into two Union Territories. Pakistan retaliated on Wednesday by downgrading diplomatic ties with India. The Indian envoy in Pakistan has been asked to leave the country. Given the current situation, the Asia-Oceania Zone Group 1 tie looks highly unlikely to be played in Pakistan. However, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on Thursday has assured that the security situation in Pakistan has not changed but that has not convinced the All India Tennis Association (AITA). AITA’s secretary general Hiranmoy Chatterjee argued that ITF's stand could change if India writes to the world body, asking for the tie to be shifted to a neutral venue.