TENNIS in DEPTH.

World Group 2009
1st Round
The Baltic Hall, Malmo
Stadium Capacity: 4077
06 March – 08 March 2009

Surface: Carpet (Taraflex Tennis ATP) – Indoors
Ball Type: Wilson US Open

Malmo is a town of about a quarter of a million people with a Mayor without any balls! A significant number of people from the Middle East happen to live in his town, and he has bowed to their demands. They have threatened that the Davis Cup tie between Sweden and Israel might present a problem that could result in a riotous demonstration against the Israelis. The stadium’s capacity is only 4000. Photographers, journalists, officials, team member’s families, trainers, coaches and hangers-on will number about 1000, which would leave seating for only 3000 fans…mostly home team supporters, not Arab fanatics.

But the Mayor has decided that even with extra security support provided from Stockholm, he will not allow any supporters into the stadium. The matches will be played to an empty arena. It’s unbelievable!

Surely a bigger danger exists at the hotel where the Israeli team is housed, or at the entrance to the stadium when the players arrive each day, or in the restaurants where they eat.

The ITF, which organizes the Cup, has once again done nothing to prevent this type of situation arising, and has done nothing to alleviate the situation after it has arisen. The matches could have been cancelled, or moved to a neutral site or played in Israel.

And surprisingly there is no word from the Swedish team members or their captain Mats Willander. A refusal by Willander to allow his team to play in Malmo to an empty stadium, thus depriving his team from much needed fan support, would have gone a long way to ensuring that the venue was changed or that fans would be allowed to see their National team play.

I for one hope that the Israeli team beats the crap out of them!….and I’m not Jewish.

Bookmark It