The complex negotiation for Chile to play the Davis Cup against Peru on the cement of the Central Court of the National Stadium

The draw for the Davis Cup final qualifiers was barely known, Captain Nicolás Massú has started planning for their home clash against Peru on February 3-4. Immediately, the intention of the double Olympic champion saw the possibility of playing on cement and on the central court of the national stadium, taking advantage of the good adaptation of national tennis players to the surface and who will come from the Australian Open.

But the Viñamarino’s wishes clash with his times. Several delays compromise this objective. First of all, the Santiago 2023 Corporation must deliver the site on January 26. The dates are not fanciful, since the entity has 60 days after the end of the Pan American and Parapan American Games to dismantle and repair the facilities used. During this time, no work can be carried out, as an intervention of this magnitude would entail. So, for now, The only option to play Ñuñoa would be to play on clay. Although Fetech’s idea is to reverse this trend.

In the particular case of Court Central, the problem is that the construction of a cement court on the brick dust currently there It takes between a month and a month and a half. Likewise, the subsequent consequences also worry the authorities. In fact, there are two latent examples. One of them is the memorable Davis Cup series between Chile and Italy in 2011 and the other, the exhibition between Rafael Nadal and Alejandro Tabilo last year in San Carlos de Apoquindo.

After the series against the team of Fabio Fognini and company, the surface never recovered, which had unfortunate consequences for the following years. For example, in 2016, during the clash against the Dominican Republic, the track had to be closed for a few days to try to leave it in acceptable conditions. “It was planned and I explain why: there is asphalt ground below and it is very difficult for the brick dust, which is clay, to compact well” said Giorgio Raineri, responsible for organizing this Davis Cup, at the time.

Meanwhile, the case of the Nadal and Tabilo exhibition generated great damage on the clay court of San Carlos de Apoquindo and mainly in Chile, which was organized three months later and failed to recover the land beaten, triggering the annoyance of the players. The matter was so complex that the organization of the tournament, in collaboration with the Sports Club of the Catholic University, had to reconstruct the central field, which, starting this Friday, will bear the name of Jaime Fillol.

After the reconstruction of the national field for the Pan American and Parapan American Games, A modern drainage system has also been put in place, which could be seriously affected by the installation of a cement court. , it is therefore not advisable to embark on a business of this scale. Faced with this situation, the National Institute of Sport preferred not to provide statements.

The deadline is approaching and the Tennis Federation with the IND must find a quick solution, while keeping in mind that the deadlines are short. For the moment, the Central Court with a cement court is not something concrete , so they are also thinking about alternatives to fulfill the captain’s wish. This, yes, of Cerro Colorado, they believe they can reach an agreement.

Otherwise, options are limited and the specific requirements of hosting a Davis Cup series must be considered. However, Rancagua appears to be a plan B in case the authorities ultimately do not give the National Stadium carte blanche.