Coronavirus forces China to withdraw from the Davis Cup tie against Romania

Alongside 12 Davis Cup Qualifiers ties, the World Group I Play-offs will also take place between March 6-7, with 24 nations fighting for 12 spots in the World Group I that will take place later in September. Romania was supposed to host China at the Sala Polivalenta Piatra Neamt in Piatra Neamt on an indoor hard surface, in the first clash between two countries. Nonetheless, the ongoing coronavirus has prevented the Chinese squad from leaving the country and traveling to Romania, with China withdrawing from the tie to send Romania into the World Group I directly. Officially named Covid-19, the coronavirus has caused a host of sporting events in China and Asia to be postponed or canceled, including Formula One's Chinese Grand Prix, the athletics World Indoor Championship, snooker's China Open, several golf tournaments and the Chinese Challenger events.

At the end of January, the ATP announced the departure of three Chinese Challengers in Qujing, Zhuhai, Shenzhen and Zhangjiagang that were supposed to go on in March, also monitoring the events scheduled for April. Thus, Romania will compete in the World Group for the first time since 2011, spending the upcoming years in Group I and dropping to a lower level in 2018 following losses to Belarus, Austrian and Israel in the previous season. In the last two years, Romania scored three wins in four ties to earn their spot in the World Group I Play-offs, beating China with a walkover and having a chance to fight for the place in the 2021 Davis Cup Qualifiers round if they score another victory in September.

"The Davis Cup Committee has accepted the withdrawal of China, P.R. from their Davis Cup World Group I play-off against Romania on 6-7 March. The increased restrictions in response to the current Coronavirus outbreak have resulted in the China, P.R. team being unable to travel to this tie. Romania will advance to play in World Group I in September," the ITF officials said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2wv5Y5T