Davis Cup tennis competitions around the world have resumed, but the Philippines won’t be one of the teams competing due to the ongoing suspension of the Philippine Tennis Association by the International Tennis Federation.
The Philippines is also barred from competing in other international team competitions, prompting national team members Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales to be disappointed and frustrated.
“It is embarrassing that the federation has been suspended and we are not able to play Davis Cup this week. It’s heartbreaking that I don’t have the opportunity to represent the country this week and help us win and earn promotion to Group II. To have the team withdrawn from Davis Cup this year by the ITF because of the state of our tennis federation is truly sad,” said Huey.
“Playing Davis Cup and representing my country has honestly been the biggest honor of my career! And I’m looking forward to playing Davis Cup again, whenever that will be!” said Gonzales.
The suspension comes after PHILTA’s failure to meet the ITF deadline of submitting reportorial requirements, including plans to amend the constitution, increase membership and make the association more inclusive.
ITF president David Haggerty noted that the association is made up of an “exclusive membership base” which does not qualify PHILTA to be a national sporting federation.
The events that transpired also prompted Haggerty to ask from PHILTA its plan of action in diversifying its membership so that an election may take place. Haggerty also noted that the tennis association must comprise of regional representatives of sports organizations, presided over by sporting clubs.
The Philippine Davis Cup Team was supposed to compete in the Asia-Oceania Group 3 from September 15 to 18, with the likes of Hong Kong, Kuwait, Jordan, Malaysia, Pacific-Oceania, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syria and Vietnam and was aiming to move back to Group II.
