LAHORE, July 9: The courts are ready for holding the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group I play off tie between Pakistan and South Africa from Sept 19-21 at Defence club where the grass courts are being given final touches for maintenance.

“ We are ready as far as the holding of the matches is concerned, the main championship courts have been fully prepared and they have been locked for use till the tie begins”, said Rao Iftikhar Ahmad, Chief Coordinator of the event on Wednesday.

He said there are total nine grass courts at the club and Pakistan being the hosts country and having the choice of courts, will be holding the tie at the grass courts for the advantage of their players who are more comfortable on grass than other surfaces.

Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has allocated the event to Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) which has preferred Defence Club over Bagh-e-Jinnah courts owing to international standard facilities for players and spectators.

“ The courts are ideal and so are the playing conditions and all that speak the joint efforts of PLTA and Defence Club for holding the event in a befitting manner “, he maintained.

To a question, he said, 500 spectators would be accommodated to watch the tie and the seating arrangements would be done with the technical support of the Corps headquarters on the pattern of a international event.—APP