Surprise awaits decision on host for Fed Cup tennis match

An announcement appears to have been delayed until Monday on whether Surprise will become the host city for a first-round Fed Cup tennis match next year.

The Fed Cup's official Web site, www.fedcup.com, on Thursday indicated that details would be disclosed next week about where the Feb. 7-8 match between the United States and Argentina will be played.

The tennis tournament, an international women's competition similar to the Davis Cup for men, has already announced some sites for the 2009 competition. Russia, for example, will begin its title defense against China at Olympic Stadium in Moscow, while teams from Spain and Czech Republic will face off in Brno, Czech Republic.

Surprise officials say landing the international tournament would be a boon to the city in terms of economic development and marketing. However, the city is competing with Providence, R.I., and Beaumont, Texas, to become host.

The U.S. Tennis Association still had details to iron out this week and was not yet prepared to make its decision on a location, said Rita Garza, the association's public-relations director.

Surprise and USTA officials dismissed as premature a report Tuesday that Surprise had been awarded the tournament. Both sides said discussions were continuing and a decision was pending.

On Nov. 5-9, Surprise hosted its first-ever Cancer Treatment Centers of America Championships.

The tennis tournament attracted retired tennis stars including Jim Courier and John McEnroe in a round-robin challenge, with McEnroe emerging the victor. More than 10,000 tickets were sold.

USTA officials were on hand to assess the city's ability to host other tourneys.

The city's $7.1 million tennis center opened in summer 2007. City Council members envisioned the facility as an economic driver as well as a way to reintroduce professional tennis to the Valley.

Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex