The disaster apparently could not been avoided.
This big friction between the India Tennis Federation and front lines players has been going on for sometimes. Everything started to escalate when the All India Tennis Association (AITA) tried to force Bhupathi and Bopanna to team up with Paes at the Olympic Games… both refused to be banned from competing for India.
Then all top players (excluding Paes) presented a document to AITA with some requests making it clear that if not satisfied, they would not compete in the next Davis Cup round.
Both parties failed to reach an agreement and Paes will be the only top guy to represent South Korea in the next tie. All other players are ranked outside the top 500.
From AITA
AITA chief executive Hironmoy Chatterjee said they have extended the deadline for players to join the India Davis Cup team without success.
“We gave them the opportunity to reconsider their stand. We tried everything, what more could we do? We did out best.” he said
“We agreed to give them business class airfare, we also agreed to give them a team of six. What more? We tried everything,” Chatterjee added . “We also agreed to name the team physiotherapist in consultation with the players.”
From the “rebels”
In a joint communicate the players commented
“We are disappointed to note that instead of engaging in discussion with us, the AITA has selected an inexperienced team to represent the country in this crucial Davis Cup fixture,”
“The AITA’s position reiterates and reaffirms our stand, and we are constrained to state that, unfortunately, we will be unavailable to represent the country until such time that the AITA engages with us in good faith.”
Good luck…
