Newport Beach Gets Davis Cup

By LISA DILLMAN

Feb. 11, 1997 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

For the first time in 20 years, the Davis Cup is returning to Orange County.

The United States, which defeated Brazil, 4-1, in the opening round last weekend, will play its quarterfinal match April 4-6 against the Netherlands at Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach.

Arrangements were completed Monday by Ken Stuart, who owns the Palisades club, and event promoters and USTA officials. Also considered was Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades.

“I just got off the phone with the USTA [officials] in Brazil about 15 minutes ago,” said a giddy Stuart. “This is huge. It’s so big. All the ingredients fell into place. It’s great for the city and great for Southern California tennis. The facility speaks for itself.”

In 1977, the United States beat South Africa, 4-1, in semifinals at the Newport Beach Tennis Club. Since then, several Davis Cup matches have been held in Southern California, but not Orange County.

Palisades, which has 16 hard courts, was formerly known as the John Wayne Tennis Club and will have to strip three of its courts and resurface them to the specifications of the USTA. The main show court will seat 4,500 spectators.

“It’s a small venue, but 4,500 people will seem like 45,000,” Stuart said.

Representing the United States in the first round were singles players MaliVai Washington and Jim Courier, and doubles partners Alex O’Brien and Richey Reneberg. O’Brien also played the final singles match after Washington suffered a knee injury.

The status of Andre Agassi, who missed the match in Brazil because of an ankle injury after committing to play there, is uncertain, although Agassi appeared to be renewing his long-running commitment to Davis Cup this year.

One potential wrinkle is that Pete Sampras and Michael Chang, who both grew up in Southern California, are scheduled to play the following week in Hong Kong. It would be difficult for them to compete in Southern California through Sunday and get on a plane to Hong Kong to be ready to play by Tuesday. Chang is also known to have a series of business obligations in Asia--where he is a revered figure--the week before the tournament.

Courier and Agassi, however, are not scheduled to play in Hong Kong. And Todd Martin’s agent said he would be available to play against the Netherlands, if asked.

The Netherlands defeated Romania, 3-2, without reigning Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek, who had missed a month and a half after undergoing right knee surgery in early December to repair torn cartilage.

Paul Haarhuis and Jan Siemerink won the reverse singles on the final day to beat Romania. And the Netherlands has one of the top doubles teams in the world, Jacco Eltingh and Haarhuis, who are ranked No. 3.

The United States and the Netherlands have met only once in Davis Cup competition, according to the USTA. In 1994, the United States won at Rotterdam in the quarterfinals, 3-2.

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Davis Cup at a Glance

* What: Davis Cup quarterfinals

* When: April 4-6

* Where: Palisades Tennis Club, 1171 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach

* Directions: San Diego Freeway to Jamboree Road in Irvine, south on Jamboree Road about four miles to Hyatt Newporter, turn right at light to club.

* Seating capacity: 5,000

* Parking capacity: 5,000 vehicles

* Opponents: United States vs. the Netherlands

* Probable singles participants: United States--Pete Sampras and Michael Chang; The Netherlands--Richard Krajicek and Paul Haarhuis

* Tickets: $30-$125 per day, but will probably only be sold as three-day tickets; will be available for purchase within two weeks.

* Host hotel: Hyatt Newporter