Australia want tie moved from India on safety grounds

Australia's tennis federation have requested their Davis Cup tie against India be moved out of the country due to security concerns.

The Indian hosts, however, remain confident of staging the May event.

"Australia have told the ITF (International Tennis Federation) that the tie should not be held in India," All India Tennis Association (AITA) executive director Ranbir Chauhan told Reuters yesterday.

"We have also written back to the ITF," he added.

"We're very, very confident the tie is going to take place in India. We guarantee full security, they will be treated as our guests."

Tennis Australia confirmed approaching the governing body.

"We have sought and received advice from a variety of sources regarding travelling to India," Tennis Australia CEO Steve Wood said.

"It is on the basis of security concerns that we have asked for the tie to be moved out of India. The ITF has received our request and is doing its own security assessment.

"The safety of our players and staff is of paramount importance to Tennis Australia."

The May 8-10 zonal tie is due to be staged in the southern city of Chennai, considered a safe city, due to increased safety fears elsewhere following the ambush of the Sri Lankan cricket team bus in Lahore, Pakistan by armed gunmen this month.

The attack has triggered concern, especially in south Asia, that sport could become a target for more attacks. India also remains nervous after Islamist militants killed 166 people in a strike on Mumbai in November.

The AITA had announced it would hire private security consultants for the tie against the former Davis Cup champions.