Due to travel warnings issued by the New Zealand Foreign Office, Lebanon will need to choose a neutral venue for its Davis Cup tie with the Kiwis:
The International Tennis Federation has moved New Zealand’s Davis Cup tie at Lebanon out of the country because of security concerns. The Sunday Star-Times reports that Tennis New Zealand was afraid to send a team into Lebanon when the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs is advising its citizens to stay away from that country. The ITF ruled in favor of New Zealand and has asked Lebanon to find a neutral location in which to play the Asia Oceania Group 2 February tie. It has a week to do so, or the tie will be played in New Zealand.
According to the official Davis Cup website, Lebanon is ranked 69th while the Kiwis are ranked in 42nd place. The New Zealand tie will take place on February 1-3, 2013. According to official records, Lebanon has lost to New Zealand every game they’ve played (three in total) since 1957.
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