Courts re-painted for Davis Cup tie against New Zealand

The Centre court at the Balewadi Sports Complex has been re-painted for the Davis Cup tie against New Zealand, scheduled for February 3-5.
It will be first tie in the city after 43 long years as the last time Pune hosted Davis Cup was in 1974 when India hosted Russia on grass at Deccan Gymkhana.
Senior IAS officer Nitin Kareer, who is the chairman of the Organising Committee for the tie said that the surface has been repaintedand the courts and stadium has been renovated.
"The stadium has the capacity to accommodate 4,000 people (spectators) and we hope that there will be participation from the crowds," he said.

According to the official, special buses will be arranged from different areas of Pune to the venue to make things easy for the spectators.
MSLTA Secretary Sundar Iyer told PTI that the evening tie is for the convenience of public.

"Players were comfortable to play in the lights. Temperatures during the day does not change much," he said when quizzed about the night ties.
The draw for the matches will be held on February 2 at the stadium in presence of Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, while state sports Minister Vinod Tawade will inaugurate the tie the next tie.
Chief Minister Devedra Fadnavis will be the guest of honour for the 'historic doubles tie' and will present a special memento to Olympian Leander Paes.

This tie is even more special to Paes as he will set the record for most ties played by any player for India. The tennis ace, who is currently tied with Italy's Nicola Pietrangeli, will eye to break the record for most wins in Davis Cup. Currently they both share a 42 wins-12 losses record on all time Davis Cup's greats list.