will host Davis Cup matches for American Zone division three and four nations next April.

Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association president David Lambert, who said he wanted the ITF to make the announcement, did reveal that it was "90 percent'' certain the Island would get the nod to host one of the most prestigious events in the tennis world.

The official confirmation is expected to take place this afternoon when Thomas Hallberg, director of Davis Cup Competition for the ITF, meets with local media at the Southampton Princess during a 4.00 p.m. press conference.

"We would prefer that Thomas make the announcement,'' said Lambert. "We feel that things look quite good for us, but it's got to come from the director of Davis Cup. That's the only way it should be done.'' Still, all signs point to Bermuda as Hallberg's first choice. It is not known whether any other nations were in the running to host the event.

The matches will take place from April 23 to May 3 and the Southampton Princess will be the host site and venue for all matches. Ten countries will be competing in division three while four nations, including Bermuda, will compete in division four. Among the nations expected to send teams are Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Costa Rica, Panama, Jamaica, Bolivia and an Eastern Caribbean squad.

With the XL Bermuda Open scheduled to take place from April 5 to 13, including qualifying, followed by Davis Cup, world-class tennis will be available to local fans for an incredible 20 days early next spring.

An opportunity to host the Davis Cup is quite an achievement considering the Island only became a full member of the ITF in 1994. But Lambert and BLTA vice president Allan Simmons have remained in close contact with ITF officials.

Since competiting in Davis Cup for the first time in 1995 in the Dominican Republic, the BLTA have been attempting to host the competition, but El Salvador were selected last winter.

Hallberg will arrive in Bermuda at noon today and will be meeting with Lambert, Simmons, Billy Way and pro association president Bob Smith from the BLTA. Representing the Southampton Princess will be sales director Peter Frith and tennis pro Mark Cordeiro. There will also be a representative from the Tourism Department sitting in on the talks.

The meeting will adjourn at 4.00 p.m. for the announcement, but will resume afterwards. Behind closed door discussions will likely focus on budgetary matters related to the hosting of the event. Lambert estimates that the price tag could be in the neighbourhood of $100,000, but the ITF will cover a large chunk of those costs.

Although not on the scale of a World Series sanctioned ATP Tour event, the Davis Cup will still represent a massive undertaking for the BLTA.

"They will send down a referee and three chair umpires and Bermuda will have to supply the rest of the line officials,'' said Lambert. "We will also have to supply all the ball kids. We also have to secure transportation for players and officials.'' Asked whether the BLTA would prefer to host the event next year or in 1998 Lambert said: "I would like to do it now. Let's do it. We're ready. If we get an opportunity to do this I'm sure it will go down as one of the best Davis Cup events.'' When Lambert and Simmons met with Hallberg in El Salvador in March the only concern the ITF had at the time was the possibility that rainy weather would prove troublesome during spring months. "But I don't really see any real stumbling blocks,'' said Lambert.

If Bermuda is selected as expected, work will begin immediately on preparations. Besides matches on the 11 courts at the west end hotel, there will also be opening and closing ceremonies.