Here are the venues for the first round dc ties
The 2002 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas may still be fresh in the memory, but anticipation of next year's competition is already building now that the venues for the first round of the World Group have been announced.
Russia begins its defence of the Cup with a potentially tricky away tie against the Czech Republic. This will be held at the Palac Kultury A Sportu Vitkovice, Ostrava, on an indoor clay court – the same surface on which Russia triumphed in the 2002 Final in Paris.
Defeated finalist France also faces an away trip, to Romania to play at the Sala Polivalenta, in Bucharest on an indoor carpet court.
History will be made in Sydney when Australia plays a home tie on clay for the first time ever in the Davis Cup, against historic sporting rival Great Britain. A temporary clay court will be laid over the Rebound Ace surface on the centre court at the Sydney International Tennis Centre (Homebush), venue of the 2000 Olympic Tennis Event.
"Clay is the best option for us to play on if we are to defeat the likes of Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski," said Australian Davis Cup Captain John Fitzgerald. "You can guarantee our choice of clay won't be popular with the Brits."
The tie is also attracting a lot of attention because it will come just after the end of England's Ashes cricket tour to Australia, which has been decided already in favour of the home nation with two Tests left. The Great Britain team, which could be as injury-ravaged as the English cricket squad, will be looking to regain some lost pride.
Spain, Davis Cup Champion in 2000, will hope to regain the trophy in 2003 and begin its campaign at home to Belgium. The Centro Deportivo Tenis Olimpico, Seville, is the venue, and it will surprise few that an outdoor red clay court has been selected.
2002 semifinalist Argentina will play Germany in Buenos Aires, at the Club Atletico River Plate, where an outdoor clay court will be used. The USA, who also reached the last four this year, will travel to Croatia, although the venue for the tie will not be confirmed until Tuesday 10 December.
Indoor carpet courts will be used for the two remaining World Group ties. The Netherlands will host Switzerland at the Gelredome, Arnhem, while Sweden have chosen to play Brazil in Helsingborg at the Idrottens Hus.
All ties will be played over the weekend of February 7-9 2003, when Daviscup.com will have live scores, the latest news, results, interviews and photos. We will of course keep you up to date with all the developments ahead of these ties, so keep checking back or sign up to our newsletter (link available on our homepage).
2003 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas
World Group First Round Venues
Romania v France – Bucharest, Romania; indoor carpet
Netherlands v Switzerland – Arnhem, Netherlands; indoor carpet
Australia v Great Britain – Sydney, Australia; outdoor clay
Sweden v Brazil – Helsingborg, Sweden; indoor carpet
Croatia v USA – tbc
Spain v Belgium – Seville, Spain; outdoor clay
Argentina v Germany – Buenos Aires, Argentina; outdoor clay
Czech Republic v Russia – Ostrava, Czech Republic; indoor clay
Belguim v Spain on outdoor clay in february
Are they crazy or what. In Holland people always say that Belgians are stupid, they'll probably say the same thing about us, but know I remember why.
The 2002 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas may still be fresh in the memory, but anticipation of next year's competition is already building now that the venues for the first round of the World Group have been announced.
Russia begins its defence of the Cup with a potentially tricky away tie against the Czech Republic. This will be held at the Palac Kultury A Sportu Vitkovice, Ostrava, on an indoor clay court – the same surface on which Russia triumphed in the 2002 Final in Paris.
Defeated finalist France also faces an away trip, to Romania to play at the Sala Polivalenta, in Bucharest on an indoor carpet court.
History will be made in Sydney when Australia plays a home tie on clay for the first time ever in the Davis Cup, against historic sporting rival Great Britain. A temporary clay court will be laid over the Rebound Ace surface on the centre court at the Sydney International Tennis Centre (Homebush), venue of the 2000 Olympic Tennis Event.
"Clay is the best option for us to play on if we are to defeat the likes of Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski," said Australian Davis Cup Captain John Fitzgerald. "You can guarantee our choice of clay won't be popular with the Brits."
The tie is also attracting a lot of attention because it will come just after the end of England's Ashes cricket tour to Australia, which has been decided already in favour of the home nation with two Tests left. The Great Britain team, which could be as injury-ravaged as the English cricket squad, will be looking to regain some lost pride.
Spain, Davis Cup Champion in 2000, will hope to regain the trophy in 2003 and begin its campaign at home to Belgium. The Centro Deportivo Tenis Olimpico, Seville, is the venue, and it will surprise few that an outdoor red clay court has been selected.
2002 semifinalist Argentina will play Germany in Buenos Aires, at the Club Atletico River Plate, where an outdoor clay court will be used. The USA, who also reached the last four this year, will travel to Croatia, although the venue for the tie will not be confirmed until Tuesday 10 December.
Indoor carpet courts will be used for the two remaining World Group ties. The Netherlands will host Switzerland at the Gelredome, Arnhem, while Sweden have chosen to play Brazil in Helsingborg at the Idrottens Hus.
All ties will be played over the weekend of February 7-9 2003, when Daviscup.com will have live scores, the latest news, results, interviews and photos. We will of course keep you up to date with all the developments ahead of these ties, so keep checking back or sign up to our newsletter (link available on our homepage).
2003 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas
World Group First Round Venues
Romania v France – Bucharest, Romania; indoor carpet
Netherlands v Switzerland – Arnhem, Netherlands; indoor carpet
Australia v Great Britain – Sydney, Australia; outdoor clay
Sweden v Brazil – Helsingborg, Sweden; indoor carpet
Croatia v USA – tbc
Spain v Belgium – Seville, Spain; outdoor clay
Argentina v Germany – Buenos Aires, Argentina; outdoor clay
Czech Republic v Russia – Ostrava, Czech Republic; indoor clay
Belguim v Spain on outdoor clay in february
Are they crazy or what. In Holland people always say that Belgians are stupid, they'll probably say the same thing about us, but know I remember why.
