Bogotá is to host the Davis Cup tie between Colombia and Croatia.
Bogotá has been chosen by the Colombian Tennis Federation to host the Davis Cup tie against Croatia for a place in the World Cup.
Colombia is facing a tough test in their Davis Cup tie against Croatia as they boast hard hitters like World number eight Marin Čilić and 2013 ATP Bogotá champion Ivo Karlović and an up-and-coming youngster, Borna Ćorić. With Karlović and Čilić, Croatia made it to the 2016 final, only to be beaten by Argentina.
Colombia features the likes of Santiago Giraldo, number 111 on the ATP ranking, Alejandro Falla, who is just back from a long injury which saw him drop outside the 200, and this year’s Australian Open mixed doubles champion Juan Sebastián Cabal and partner Robert Farah.
The federation expressed that after extensive analyses with the players, team captains and experts they decided they’d have the best chance of a victory at the altitude of the Colombian capital.
The decision to hold the meeting at altitude sparked controversy as Fabiola Zuluaga, the highest ranked Colombian female tennis player in history told Pulzo, “I would have preferred playing at sea level where the ball doesn’t go as fast,” referring to Čilić and Karlović’s big and powerful services.
Colombia comes off a 3-1 victory against Chile in Medellín, with star man Santiago Giraldo winning both his ties and Cabal and Farah claiming the other point in a doubles victory.
The match between Colombia – number 23 in the world – against number five ranked Croatia takes place on clay court, Colombia’s favourite surface. The stadium is yet to be confirmed but in 2010, the last time a Davis Cup tie took place in Bogotá, the bullfighting arena Plaza de Toros la Santamaría was turned into a tennis stadium and this is the expected location between September 15 and 17.
