ITF

approved by the ITF. Furthermore, the overall required court area must be rectangular in shape. Application to use a court that does not meet with the above requirements must reach the ITF as soon as possible no later than the date fixed for approval of the completed Questionnaire for the Tie. The chairs of the line umpires may be placed at the back and the sides of the court within the above minimum distances provided they do not protrude into the area more than 0.914 metres (3 feet). (f) Preparation of Court From the date of arrival of the Referee and for the duration of the Tie nothing must be done to the surface of the court or court surrounds without his/her consent. (g) Court Covers The Home Nation must ensure that high quality court covers adequate for all clay and grass courts, are provided in all outdoor Ties in World Group and World Group II. Such court covers must be available for use no later than four days prior to the commencement of the Tie. When a Tie is played on hard court (acrylic type) must be provided at all World Group and Zone Group Ties to remove water from the court. (h) Minimum Height to the Ceiling There must be a space from the court surface to the ceiling of no less than 9.14 metres clear (12 metres in the case of World Group Ties) unless otherwise approved by the ITF. This measurement must be taken at the net. Applications to use a court with less than 9.14 metres clear (12 metres in the case of World Group Ties) must reach the ITF as soon as possible and no later than the date fixed for approval of the completed Questionnaire for the Tie. (i) Balls The balls to be used in all matches in the Competition must conform to the specifications in the Rules of Tennis and must be approved by the ITF. Unless both Captains and the Referee agree to a different ball change, the ball must be changed after 7 and 9 games (6 balls). For Zone Groups I, II and III it must be after 9 and 11 games (4 balls). In World Group and World Group II and Zone Group I, Nations must apply for approval to use ball Types 1 and 3; in Zone Group II and III Nations may use Type 1 and 2 balls on a slow pace court and Type 2 and 3 on a fast pace court. A Home Nation that chooses balls that are not approved by the ITF must submit to the ITF six dozen (72) balls for testing and approval by no later than two (2) months prior to the commencement of the Tie. Subject to prior approval by the ITF, pressureless balls, high altitude balls and type 3 balls may be used at high altitude venues, as described in Appendix I of the Rules of Tennis. 19

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