U.S.-Italy Davis Cup match headed to Milwaukee
Posted: Thursday July 23, 1998 06:31 PM
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The U.S. team defeated Belgium 4-1 in the quarterfinals AP |
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- A policy of Davis Cup organizers to schedule
matches where they have never been held before influenced the
selection of Milwaukee for semifinals in September, a spokesman
says.
The downtown Wisconsin Center Arena won the bidding for the
three-day competition beginning September 25 between Italy and the
United States, said Russ Cline, whose Kansas City marketing firm
helps with Davis Cup arrangements.
The semifinal tie will mark the first time a Davis Cup match
will be held in the state of Wisconsin.
"This is a proud day for me, being a native of Wisconsin,
to know that I will be coaching our U.S. Davis Cup team in my
home state," said U.S. Davis Cup captain Tom Gullikson, who was
born in Lacrosse, Wisconsin.
"Italy is one of the traditional powers in Davis Cup and
they will be tough opponents in this semifinal tie."
Because the Davis Cup "is the only major tennis event in the
world that travels, it's great that when the United States can host
these events, it gets spread out to a lot of different
communities," Cline said Wednesday.
Milwaukee, Detroit, San Diego and Richmond, Virginia, were the four
finalists for the semifinals.
The survivor of the best-of-five-match competition advances
against the winner of the Sweden-Spain semifinals.
The U.S. team that defeated Belgium 4-1 in the quarterfinals
Was comprised of Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Todd Martin and Richey
Renberg.
Davis Cup representatives visited Milwaukee last week to
consider the availability of motel and hotel rooms.
The choice needed the approval of the London-based International
Tennis Federation and the United States Tennis Federation, Cline
said.
A reason for choosing the city "was the excitement that I felt
from all of the people we met," Cline said.
The Wisconsin Center has spent about $10 million this year
remodeling the Arena, which is about one block from the Bradley
Center, home of the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA.
"The building is just excellent," Cline said. "It's got great
sight lines. It's the right size.
"I think what they have done with the renovation is
outstanding. It had all the other ancillary facilities we needed to
entertain and do hospitality and all the office space."
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