SAN DIEGO (AP) The first-round Davis Cup match between Britain and the United States will be played on a clay court in left field at baseball's Petco Park from Jan. 31-Feb. 2.
While organizers haven't decided if it'll be red or green clay, they feel their choice of surface will give the Americans an advantage over Britain, which is expected to be led by defending Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.
"The feeling is that Murray and anyone below him would have trouble on clay," Jeff Ryan of the U.S. Tennis Association said after a news conference on the infield at the downtown ballpark, home to the San Diego Padres, on Tuesday. "It's not their preferred surface. In between now and then, with Andy still recovering from his surgery and going to Australia and playing there, I don't think they'll have a lot of clay court experience. The home court advantage is right there. That's it. We're used to getting it against us all the time. We're getting much more comfortable on clay."
Organizers haven't decided whether it'll be red clay, which is made from crushed bricks, or on Har-Tru green clay, which is made from crushed stone.
Playing the match on clay probably is a lesser of three evils decision.