ITF

in all outdoor Ties in the World Group. Such court covers must be available for use at least 8 days before the commencement of the Tie. When a Tie is played on a hard court (acrylic type) appropriate equipment /squeezers 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 not less than 9 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 metres clear (or 12 metres in case of the World Group) must reach the ITF as soon as possible after the Draw or the completion of the previous round 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 Ties/Events in the Competition must be approved by the ITF, in accordance with Rule 3 of the Rule of Tennis. Unless both Captains and the Referee agree to a different ball change policy, the balls must be changed after the first seven (7) and each subsequent nine (9) games in each rubber (with six (6) new balls) of the same brand to be provided at each change. For Zone Groups III and IV the balls must be changed after the first nine (9) and each subsequent eleven (11) games in each rubber (with four (4) new balls) of the same brand to be provided at each change. Type 2 balls may be used in all Ties/Events held at an altitude of less than 1,219 m above sea level. Type 1 balls may be used where the court pace rating of the surface to be used in the Tie/Event is classified as 'slow', and type 3 balls may be used where the court pace rating of the surface to be used in the Tie/Event is classified as 'fast'. Such use is subject to advance authorisation by the ITF for World Group and Zone Group I Ties, and must be sought by the Home Nation no later than the date of the questionnaire for the Tie submission deadline. In all Ties/Events held at an altitude of 1,219 m above sea level, or greater, Nations must use a ball type specified for use at high altitude, as described in Appendix I of the Rules of Tennis. (j) General conditions for the Tie The Davis Cup Committee may, at any time, at its discretion intervene if, in its opinion, the conditions for or the circumstances surrounding any Tie, including, but without limitation to, the climate, court surface or local organisation do not or are unlikely to ensure the maintenance at all times of the high ideals of the competition. 40. MATCH COURT AVAILABILITY AND PRACTICE ON COURT (a) Indoors: The match court must be available for practice at least four days before the Tie is due to start. In addition, one indoor practice court of exactly the same surface as, and in close proximity to the match court must be freely available 23

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