London March 05, 2012: The Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) has selected the tourist resort of Marina d’Or in Oropesa del Mar, Castellon as the venue for the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas quarterfinal tie between Spain and Austria that will take place on 6-8 April. The Marina d’Or resort, built on the shores of the Costa del Azahar in the Mediterranean sea, is home to the biggest sea water spa in Europe.
The tie will be played on an outdoor clay court, the usual choice of the Spanish Davis Cup teams for their home ties. Spain, the defending champions, have won their last 22 home ties, putting them in second place (with Germany) on the list for the most consecutive ties won at home behind Italy (28).
Spain have defeated Austria just once in four previous meetings and were firmly beaten by a Thomas Muster-led team in the most recent of these, a first round encounter in 1995. Austria is making an appearance in the quarterfinals for the first time in 17 years, which coincidentally they reached by beating Spain. Jurgen Melzer, who has carried the Austrian team for a number of years, proved the difference in a 3-2 first round victory over Russia that also marked Captain Clemens Trimmel’s first taste of Davis Cup.
In the other quarterfinal ties France will host USA at the Monte Carlo Country Club; Czech Republic will host Serbia at the O2 Arena in Prague; and Argentina will host Croatia at the Parque Roca in Buenos Aires. For more information visit www.daviscup.com and www.copadavis.com.
BNP Paribas World Team Cup qualification completed
Nigeria, South Africa, Italy and France have earned their places at May’s BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Seoul, Korea Republic, after victories in the final regional qualification events last week. Nigeria saw off Morocco to secure a place in men’s World Group 2 at the Africa qualification event which took place at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies in Nairobi. South Africa’s Rose van der Meer, Delia du Toit and Mabel Mankgele proved by far the strongest team in the women’s event, winning both of their round-robin ties against Kenya and Zimbabwe 3-0 to earn their qualification for the women’s World Group.
The Rixos Lares Hotel in Antalya, Turkey welcomed ten men’s teams and seven women’s teams from a total of 13 nations to contest the Europe qualifying competition. Italy overcame Switzerland in the final of the men’s event after Luca Spano and Fabian Mazzei recorded singles victories to secure Italy’s place in World Group 2. Austria and France contested the women’s play-off final which was decided by the doubles after Margit Fink (AUT) and Christine Schoenn (FRA) won their singles rubbers. France’s Evelyne Claverie and Schoenn edged Henriett Koosz and Waltraud Posch 36 64 (10-8) to claim victory and a place in the women’s World Group.
A further two men’s teams will be awarded wild cards, decided by the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Committee, for World Group 2 at the 2012 BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Seoul, Korea Republic, which takes place on 21-27 May. For more information visit www.itftennis.com/wheelchair.
Eton Manor to host Wheelchair Tennis Test Event in May
The Eton Manor Wheelchair Tennis International is one of five Paralympic test events taking place on 3-6 May, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has announced. Tickets to the Eton Manor Wheelchair Tennis International, a part of the NEC Wheelchair Tour, for Saturday 5 May (the only day of the test event that is ticketed) will go on sale to the general public at 10:00 UK time on Thursday 15 March.
Ticket prices range from £3- £5 and will be available via www.ticketmaster.co.uk/londonpreparesseries. “We are looking forward to the first Wheelchair Tennis Test Event ever held,” said Mark Bullock, ITF Wheelchair Tennis Manager and Technical Delegate for the London 2012 Paralympic Tennis Event. “The Paralympic Tennis Centre at Eton Manor looks great and this ITF 3 Series NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour event will allow many elements of the organisation to be tested.” For more information visit www.itftennis.com/wheelchair.
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