The International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced Dubai as the host city for the upcoming Fed Cup that is scheduled to be held from March 3 to March 7. The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Dongguan, China, from February 4 to 8. However, the tournament was shifted out of China following the outbreak of deadly Coronavirus.
According to the ITF release, “The event will be held in the week following the ATP Dubai tournament at the same venue, and will see six nations — China P.R., Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Korea Rep, and Uzbekistan — compete for a place in the Fed Cup Play-offs in April.”
The six teams will face each other for two places in the Fed Cup play-offs. Indian Fed Cup captain Vishal Uppal told PTI that playing in Dubai will not make any difference. But this will give Sania Mirza plenty of time to recover.
Vishal Uppal told PTI, “Being in Dubai makes no difference. But the dates give enough time to Sania for her recovery. Doubles is an important point. Ankita is playing well. The other team members will also get some tournaments to play under their belt.”
It is to be noted that Sania Mirza’s participation in the Fed Cup was in doubt as she had picked up a calf injury during the Australian Open. Sania’s injury had forced her out of the Australian Open mixed doubles and women’s doubles competition. The sudden pull out of Sania had also forced her mixed doubles partner Rohan Bopanna and her women’s doubles partner Nadia Kichenok to join forces in the tournament.
On the other hand, Ankita Raina has been enjoying success as she won the singles and doubles crown in Nonthaburi in the $25,000 ITF Thailand 01A tournament. Ankita, on Saturday, with her Dutch partner Bibiane Schoof beat China’s Jia-Qi Kang and Japan’s Miyabi Inoue 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 in the final of the doubles event of Nonthaburi in the $25,000 ITF Thailand 02A tournament.