India's tennis authorities "have agreed to accept most of the demands made by its regular Davis Cup players who had threatened to boycott next month's home tie against South Korea," according Sudipto Ganguly of REUTERS. India's top eight players, excluding Leander Paes, "submitted a list of requirements to the All India Tennis Association with a veiled threat to snub the regional first round tie in New Delhi from Feb. 1-3 if no action was taken." On Sunday AITA "agreed to their demands for a new coach, a higher share of prize money and the players' involvement in the choice of venues for ties" (REUTERS, 1/6). The PTI reported the association "came up with a compromise formula to placate the revolting players," but also "kept its authority intact by keeping the final decision on all matters in its hand." The AITA decided that the team captain "should be an experienced Davis Cup player and the coach should have at least been a former Davis Cupper." AITA said in a statement: "This decision was taken by the Executive Committee so that Davis Cuppers have an opportunity to serve the nation even after their retirement. Accordingly, we are pleased to inform you that the new coach for the year 2013 for the Indian Davis Cup team will be Zeeshan Ali." AITA "has also assured" it will change captain S. P. Misra after the South Korea tie, but "it is not known if the replacement would be of the players' choice or the tennis body would impose its own candidate" (PTI, 1/6).
