Former Davis Cup great Todd Woodbridge on Wednesday criticised the International Tennis Federation's insistence that Australia play a tie against India in Chennai despite security concerns.
Former Davis Cup great Todd Woodbridge on Wednesday criticised the International Tennis Federation's insistence that Australia play a tie against India in Chennai despite security concerns.
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Woodbridge said the ITF's stance was "totally irresponsible" and had the potential to end the Australian star player Lleyton Hewitt's participation in the competition.
The ITF last week rejected Tennis Australia's request the Asia-Oceania Group I play-off be moved to a neutral venue outside India in the wake of November's Mumbai terrorist attacks.
Woodbridge said the ITF had not listened to Australia's concerns about the May 8-10 tie, even though other major competitions such as the Indian Premier League had been moved to neutral venues.
"How can we expect our team to go and play in India when everybody else in that region is pulling out," said Woodbridge, who holds the record for the most Davis Cup ties contested by an Australian.
"I think it's irresponsible for the International Tennis Federation to expect us as players to go there and put ourselves on the line in a very, very difficult predicament, with the way their social system's running," he told commercial radio.
Tennis Australia risks a fine and possibly a year-long expulsion from the competition if it refuses to play in India.
Woodbridge, who retired in 2005, said such a move could end former world number one Hewitt's illustrious Davis Cup career.
"If this took us out this year and it effectively took us out of the competition next year, at 28 years of age, it's unlikely that he would play for Australia any more," he said.
Tennis Australia has appealed against the ITF decision.
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