Norway installs unprecedented gravel court for Davis Cup tie with China

For the upcoming Davis Cup encounter with China, Norway has constructed a gravel court inside Trondheim Spektrum, marking the first use of such a surface in the Nordic countries. The court comprises 400 plates, each weighing 100 kg, amounting to roughly 40 tonnes before the gravel, which is sourced from Hungary, is laid down. Event organizer Franck Fog said the choice was driven by the desire to exploit the Norwegian team’s strengths and limit China’s powerful flat strokes, noting the higher cost of the surface.

Casper Ruud, now back from a recent back issue that forced him to miss the US Open, will headline the squad alongside Nikolai Budkov Kjær, Viktor Durasovic, Herman Høyeraal and John Oscar Lien. The tie will feature four singles matches and a potential doubles match across two days, with the victor moving on to the Davis Cup finals. The matches will be broadcast by NRK.