Davis Cup bye in Eastern Zone

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33580, 8 July 1974, Page 14

Davis Cup bye in Eastern Zone

(From ROBERT HORROCKS, N.Z.P.A. staff correspondent) LONDON. New Zealand’s entry into the Eastern Zone of the 1975 Davis Cup competition has given it the first opportunity in a number of years to stage a home tie.

In the draw, made in London on Saturday. New Zealand has been given a bye! through to the third round.! and on present world stand-; ings has an excellent chance! of reaching the next stage! to play India in a zonal; semi-final. The third round must beplayed by December 2 of this year, and if normal procedures are followed, this willmean that New Zealand’sfirst tie will be played on November 29 and 30 and; December 1. New Zealand will play the winner of a tie involving! either Taiwan or Korea! against either Vietnam or! Malaysia. Under Davis Cutrules, if the two nations in-! volved in a tie have not met! each other in the preceding! five years, the country given highest order in the draw-

'has the right to stage the, event. Of the 13 countries in! the Eastern Zone, only India, | is above New Zealand in the! I draw. ! If New Zealand reaches the -semi-final, it will meet India before February 3 next year, j India has been seeded top In' i the Eastern Zone, ahead of Aus-! i tralia, which it has already | -beaten in the competition this! year. No other countries were! .seeded, and New Zealand’s draw; is the best possible. No other; ; country of the 11 drawn has a bye past the second round. DISADVANTAGES In the last three Davis Cup! competitions. New Zealand has' . played in the European zone. ■ ; Previous to that, entries were ; made in the American Zone. By - -playing outside zonal areas NewZealand forfeited the right to stage a home tie and endured lthe disadvantage of playing on. 'clay surfaces before mainly opposition crowds Other countries Playing in the! 1975 Eastern Zone are Hong. Hong. Sri Lanka. Philippines,' Pakistan, Indonesia, and Japan.