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USTA Working with Serbian Media to Sort Through Credential Miscommunications

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By Romi Cvitkovic

March 14, 2013 — The U.S. Tennis Association said Thursday that they are working closely with the Serbian media outlet Sportska Centrala to sort through miscommunications regarding media credentials for the upcoming USA vs. Serbia Davis Cup series April 5-7 in Boise, Idaho.
Multiple USTA media representatives reached out to representatives of Tennis Grandstand Thursday to communicate that procedures for applying for the media credentials were not handled properly, thus the application for reporter Nebojsa Petrovacki was denied. Petrovacki is a former editor-at-large for Sportska Centrala, has covered dozens of ATP and WTA events over the last ten years, and is currently at the BNP Paribas Open as credentialed media.
While the Serbian Tennis Federation had stated in a correspondence with Sportska Centrala’s editor in chief, Alex Krstanovic, that only one Serbian journalist was credentialed for the series to their knowledge, the USTA said Thursday that at least four outlets were approved to cover the matches. According to the USTA, of those credentialed, only one applied as print media while the rest were internet or television applications.
Krstanovic, in an email on Thursday, said that in the media outlet’s original application for the Davis Cup tie, the Serbian Tennis Federation supported their reporter’s request for a credential, and had followed up with the International Tennis Federation on Thursday morning regarding the situation as well.
However, the USTA detailed that initial proper steps were not fully executed by the media outlet to warrant approval of the credential request upon original review.
The USTA has reached out to Petrovacki, and pending that proper steps are taken by the media outlet, the USTA “foresees (Petrovacki) getting re-credentialed” for the Davis Cup event in April.
With world No. 1 Novak Djokovic scheduled to participate as well as the soon-to-be named US team of John Isner, Sam Querrey, and Mike and Bob Bryan, the Davis Cup quarterfinal between the two tennis powerhouse countries is selling out fast. Secure your tickets here.
This article is a follow up to Wednesday’s piece on the denial of reporter Nebojsa Petrovacki’s credential request for the Davis Cup.

UPDATE: USTA Credentials Only One Serbian Journalist for USA vs Serbia Davis Cup tie

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By Romi Cvitkovic

Anticipated US Davis Cup team vs Serbia

UPDATE 2 (March 14, 2013 – 5:30PM): USTA and Sportska Centrala are working together to sort through this media credential miscommunication. Full update here.
UPDATE 1 (March 14, 2013 – 12:10AM): Tim Curry, spokesperson for the USTA, just tweeted the following statement: “Contrary to reports there are multiple Serbian outlets credentialed for Davis Cup quarterfinal in Boise.” Will update further as needed.
March 13, 2013 — With Novak Djokovic joining team Serbia, and Jim Courier set to announce the US team of John Isner, Sam Querrey, and Bob and Mike Bryan, the Davis Cup quarterfinal scheduled for next month in Boise, ID is boasting a nearly sellout crowd. But at what price to visiting Serbian journalists?
According to Alex Krstanovic, cheif editor at Sportska Centrala, a media credential request for his reporter Nebojsa Petrovacki was made to the USTA by the March 8th deadline. Petrovacki has reported for Sportska Centrala for more than ten years and covered dozens of ATP and WTA events, and is currently at the BNP Paribas Open as a credentialed media member.
Despite the qualifications, the USTA responded today with the following statement: “It is with great regret that we are unable to accommodate your request(s) for media credentials for the 2013 Davis Cup quarterfinal tie in Boise, Idaho. Unfortunately, we have received more requests than we are able to accommodate at this time.”
The issue is not in the denial of the request itself, as media centers tend to fill up fairly quickly for popular events like these; the issue is in the very limited number of spots open for Serbian media at this event.
According to the Serbian Tennis Federation, only one Serbian journalist and one Serbian photographer have been credentialed for the USA-Serbia Davis Cup tie next month. Given this staggering confirmation, the denial of Petrovacki’s request becomes all the more bizarre as he would have only been the SECOND Serbian journalist at the event.
In unique fashion, it’s difficult to grasp that the USTA could not allocate more than one seat for Serbian media in its entire press room and arena. Regardless of how many Serbian media members actually end up covering the event, a few select spots (let’s say 5, at the very least) should have been held open for the visiting country’s media.
When Novak Djokovic won the U.S. Open in 2011, the media room was booming with Serbian press, and rightfully so. Imagine if the Serbian press had been limited that day to only one journalist and one reporter — there would have been immense backlash. And while it’s obvious that the USTA welcomes the Serbian Davis Cup team members, the same can’t necessarily be said for their “welcome” of the Serbian media.