Boise, The Woodstock of Tennis, To Host Davis Cup

Written by: Staff on 5th February 2013

Boise, The Woodstock of Tennis, To Host Davis Cup

epa02818218 The shadow of Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania in action against Roberta Vinci of Italy is seen on the clay during the final match in the singles competition of the Poli-Farbe Budapest Grand Prix WTA tennis tournament, 10 July 2011, in Budapest, Hungary. EPA/TIBOR ILLYES HUNGARY OUT |

Boise, Idaho doesn’t easily roll of the lips of the international tennis crowd, but the city does love the sport and after a big effort by Boise State University coach Greg Patton, they’ve secured a Davis Cup tie. The US will meet Serbia there April 5-7.

“Obviously for tennis, this is the biggest thing that’s ever happened to Boise and the state of Idaho. … The community is just going to love it,’’ Patton told the Idaho Statesman.

Idaho Tennis Association Executive Director Steve Bickham and local businesses were also involved in trying to bring the tie to Boise. Tacoma, Wash., was previously in the running.

Patton and Bickham said the USTA typically requires a $400,000 guarantee for a bid. The matches will be played at the Taco Bell Arena on the campus of Boise State University, which will have an expected capacity of approximately 11,700.

“The USTA has made a lot of concessions to try and make this work for us,’’ Patton said. “I think I’m being pretty pragmatic. I said this, ‘My word is on the line, you bring it to Boise and we’re going to pack it.’ ’’

Patton is in his 17th season at the helm of the Boise State program and has led Boise State to six NCAA tournament appearances in the past seven years and four Western Athletic Conference titles since the beginning of his second tenure in 2003.

Patton has been credited with turning Boise State into a national tennis power since his arrival in 1993. During the 1997 season, Boise State was ranked as high as second in the nation and went to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships

Patton also coached the USTA junior national team from 1984-87 leading many players to top five world rankings. At the junior level, Patton helped groom Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Michael Chang, David Wheaton, and Malavai Washington. Courier is the current US Davis Cup captain.

He also coached at the junior level from 1998-2003 leading the National Boys’ 14s to the 2003 World Cup Championship, where he got to meet current US Davis Cupper Sam Querrey.

His son Garrett is a freshman on the Boise State tennis team this season. Scott Sears, who is the son of Ana Ivanovic coach Nigel, also plays on the team.

Patton told the Boise Weekly that No. 1 Novak Djokovic ‘s appearance will bring in the crowds.

“Djokovic is unbelievable, the most charismatic tennis player in the world,” said Patton who described Davis Cup as the “Woodstock” tennis.

“It’s like the Rolling Stones playing on one day, then Led Zeppelin on the second day and then on the third day, it would be the Beach Boys and the Beatles playing together,” he said.

The event is expected to have an economic impact of between $2 million and $3 million, depending on the numbers of visitors and tickets sold.

©Daily tennis news wire

Topics: David Wheaton, Davis Cup, Jim Courier, Malavai Washington, Michael Chang, Pete Sampras, Scott Sears, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Usta