Pak loses final Davis Cup appeal over 'unplayable' court in tie game

Pakistan has lost the final appeal against a decision of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) over an unplayable grass court in a Davis Cup tie-match between Pakistan and New Zealand in April.

The ITF board of directors upheld the decision of the Davis Cup Committee, which denied the initial appeal by the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) against the decision of a ITF referee at the Asia/Oceania Group II tie in Myanmar, Stuff.co.nz reports.

According to the report, the referee awarded the tie to New Zealand, adding that under Davis Cup regulations, the referee can call off the tie and award the victory to the visiting nation if the home nation fails to provide a playable court.

However, PTF president Syed Kaleem Imam expressed his confidence that the ITF board will announce a just decision in the future, saying that the body will leave no stone unturned and take the issue to the highest level to ensure that justice is done and Pakistan given their due right.

According to the report, although the tie could not be played in Pakistan for security reasons, they were responsible for ensuring that the court was up to standard, being the hosts, adding that the tie was awarded to New Zealand because the grass court surface in Yangon was deemed unplayable by the referee.

The report further said that following the dismissal of their first appeal, the PTF accused New Zealand players of sabotaging the court and added that the referee showed bias to New Zealand.

New Zealand can now prepare with certainty for the Asia/Oceania Group II final in the Philippines in September, the report added.