Tennis-Hewitt says ITF handling of Davis Cup furore "a disgrace"

By Pritha Sarkar

PARIS, May 24 (Reuters) - An angry Lleyton Hewitt labelled the ITF's actions a disgrace after the tennis governing body fined Australia $10,000 over their decision to boycott a Davis Cup zonal tie in India because of security concerns.

Tennis Australia (TA) had asked the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to move the May 8-10 Asia/Oceania tie out of the southern Indian city of Chennai but the request was rejected and the 28-times champions forfeited the contest.

"The whole thing is a circus. The way the ITF went about it was a disgrace in the first place," the Australian former world number one told reporters at the French Open on Sunday after booking his place in round two.

"Australia Davis Cup is pretty disappointed about the way they've gone about it. The way the ITF went about this was very ordinary."

Security for sports teams in the sub-continent has been questioned following the ambush of the Sri Lanka cricket team's bus in Lahore, Pakistan, in March.

The Indian cricket board moved the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 league to South Africa after the government said providing security would be a problem due to a clash of dates with the general election.

India also remains nervous after militants killed more than 150 people in a three-day attack in Mumbai in November.

The ITF had carried out its own security inspection in Chennai and had declared the city and venue, which also staged an ATP tournament in January, safe.

Under ITF rules, Australia could have been suspended for a year. India feel the ITF has been too lenient with Australia and are seeking a review of the punishment. (Editing by Sonia Oxley; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)