Davis Cup Tie In N.Z. 'Unlikely'

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29956, 18 October 1962, Page 28

Davis Cup Tie In N.Z. ' Unlikely'

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, October 17. It is extremely unlikely that New Zealand will ever be able to stage a Davis Cup tennis tie between New Zealand and a far-eastern country while the Davis Cup regulations remain as they are.

This opinion was expressed tonight by the chairman of the L.T.A. management committee (Mr F. S. Ramson). He was commenting on a message from Auckland stating that a cup tie could be played here next year as the outcome of New Zealand’s entry in the

Eastern Zone of the competition. “For New Zealand to stage such a match it would be necessary to have the complete agreement of the other country. “We are not zoned, and the regulations for Davis Cup play state that subject to any two nations mutually agreeing otherwise for their own tie, all ties in the respective zones shall be played within the confines of those zones. “* Prospects Slight "New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa are not included in any zone. The prospect therefore of a match here is very slight The eastern countries would naturally want to play us on their own ground and in their own conditions,” said Mr Ramson. “Our conditions are very different to those in eastern countries. We would have to assure the other country of much greater financial benefit by playing the match in New Zealand, but against this is the fact that in Davis Cup tennis the important thing is to win. This is more important than making a few extra pounds. “The future, however, could be brighter as a committee was now considering changes in the structure of the Davis Cup. These changes could well result in New Zealand being included in a zone embracing some eastern countries and in this we would have our turn in staging matches.”