THE SIDELINES : Appeal Denial Displeases Aussie

SYDNEY, Australia — Tennis Australia President Geoff Pollard said today that he’s disappointed by the International Tennis Federation’s rejection of an appeal against starting times for the Davis Cup final.

Australian officials had objected to a 5 p.m. (EST) start for the first of two singles matches Friday, Nov. 30, in St. Petersburg, Fla., between the United States and Australia. They wanted the matches to begin earlier in the day.

The doubles match Saturday is scheduled for 12:30 p.m., and Tennis Australia had complained there was not enough time between matches if players competing in singles Friday were included in the doubles team Saturday afternoon.

But ITF President Philippe Chatrier said in Paris on Sunday that the times could not be changed and that tailoring them for television was legitimate on the part of the U.S. Tennis Assn.