Tennis

Wimbledon woe for Israel

Simon Griver — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:51:37 +0100

Israel’s top two players – Shahar Peer and Dudi Sela - will need to qualify for the main draw at this year’s Wimbledon grand slam after sliding down the rankings.

A series of poor performances from Peer (104) and Sela (107) means that there will be no Israeli players in the main Singles draw.

Peer was beaten in straight sets this week by Teliana Pereira (129) of Brazil in the first round of the Cagnes Sur Mer tournament in France.

Only the top 104 players in the world rankings are assured places in grand slam tournaments. However, Peer, ranked 11 only two years ago, has qualified for the French Open later this month but has missed the cut for SW19 due to her early exit in France.

Sela has said he will not compete in the qualifiers at Roland Garros.

Paris powers to junior title

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:34:29 +0100

Joshua Paris continued his preparations for this summer’s Maccabiah Games by winning the Aegon Junior International tournament in Nottingham.

Paris, who will captain the Maccabi GB Maccabiah squad in Israel, beat Corentin Denolly of France 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) in the final of the under-18 Grade 4 competition.

Israel to play Belgium in Davis Cup

Simon Griver — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:10:54 +0100

Israel has been drawn away to Belgium in the Davis Cup World Group relegation play-offs.

The tie is scheduled for September 13-15 but Israel will request that matches are not played during the Yom Kippur fast on September 14.

Israel has been handed one of the least daunting draws with Dudi Sela (106) and Amir Weintraub (170) pitted against Xavier Malisse (50) and David Goffin (65).

Israel was promoted to the World Group this year but lost 5-0 to France in the first round.

Success for Glushko

Simon Griver — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:51:36 +0000

Julia Glushko won the Innisbrook ITF final in Florida.

The Israeli Federation Cup star came from a set down to beat Patricia Mayer-Achleitner (161) 2-6, 6-0, 6-4 in the final. Glushko (174) is expected to climb to 160 in the world rankings.

Dudi Sela (127) lost to world no. 9 Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia in the second round of the Miami Masters. It was a marked improvement on recent performances from Sela who had come through two qualifying rounds and beaten Marinko Matosevic (51) of Australia in round one.

Team GB Maccabiah tennis squad announced

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:47:41 +0000

Team GB will take a 20-man tennis squad to Israel for the 19th Maccabiah Games in Israel.

Chaired by Jan Feldman, the junior squad features previous medal winners, tournament finalists and ranked players. ITF national ranked starlet Joshua Paris will captain the junior squad which also features Aegon Schools team national finalists Max Benaim and Gabriel Freedman.

The Junior Girls team includes ITF national ranked player and girls’ captain, Rebecca Smaller, as well as 2011 European Maccabi Games medallist Savannah Simons.

Six of the squad are members from the North London Tennis Club, Chandos LTC, which has been hosting regular
practice sessions with Squad Coach, Ronnie Maxwell.

Kenny Collins captains the Masters squad which includes five newcomers.

Feldman said: "This year promises to be a very exciting time for the squad with international players representing Maccabi GB tennis – the commitment they are showing and the desire to win is second-to-none.

"It will be a real learning curve as visiting Israel is a first time occurrence for some. However, I am excited for them as it will be a unique opportunity to be involved in one of the biggest sporting events in the world and, just as important, to strengthen their ties with Israel and other Jewish athletes from their team and around the world."

SQUAD:

Junior Boys
Joshua Paris (squad captain)
Boaz Goldwater
David Mizrahi
Aaron Shahrabany
Max Benaim
Gabriel Freedman

Junior Girls
Rebecca Smaller (captain)
Savannah Simons
Abi Spanbok

Masters
Kenny Collins (capt)
Stuart Marchant
Ian Kay
Andrew Hirshman
Ric Sopher
Stephen Carlin
David Mattey
Philip Meir
Alex Barnett
Sarah Schechter

Israel whitewashed by France

Danny Caro — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:11:31 +0000

Israel were on the receiving end of an embarrassing whitewash in their Davis Cup World Group match against France in Rouen.

Their hopes were dealt a blow before the action started when Andy Ram pulled out of the doubles match due to injury.

Rising star Amir Weintraub was the only Israeli to win a set in any of the five matches. But he had no answer to the power of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, going down 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.

Dudi Sela was outclassed 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 by Richard Gasquet.

France clinched the match after game three, when Michaël Lodra and Julien Benneteau overcame Jonathan Erlich and Sela 7-6 (7-3), 6-1, 6-0.

Noam Okun earned a run-out in the fourth match, a dead-rubber, won 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) by Lodra, and it was left to Gasquet to complete the 5-0 success with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Weintraub.

Israel coach Eyal Ran said: "We did the best we could but it was never going to be enough. I’m proud that we are back in the World Group and now we must prepare for the relegation playoff."

Nine-times winners France will travel to Argentina in the quarterfinals on April 5.

French test for Israel

Simon Griver — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:14:02 +0000

Israel returns to the Davis Cup World Group stage on Friday after a two-year absence, but they face the sternest possible test against France in Rouen.

Doubles specialist Andy Ram has declared himself fit following elbow surgery and he will team up with Jonathan Erlich, but Dudi Sela (106) and Amir Weintraub (173) would appear to have little chance against top 10 stars Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet. Julien Benneteau (38) and Michael Llodra (63) complete the French line-up.

Sela said: "The chances aren't good but we’ll give it everything."

Meanwhile, Shahar Peer and Julia Glushko will represent Israel in the Federation Cup playoffs in Eilat later this month.

Israel will face Poland, Romania and Turkey in a 16-team competition in Eilat. The top two nations will progress to the World Group.

Update: Andy Ram pulled out of the Israel squad on Thursday. Dudi Sela will now partner Jonathan Erlich in the doubles.

Erlich eliminated from Australian Open

Danny Caro — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:45:09 +0000

Jonathan Erlich bowed out of the Australian Open in the third round of the Men's Doubles after he and partner Kevin Anderson were beaten in straight sets by Robin Haase and Igor Sijsling.

Erlich was Israel's most successful player in Melbourne, but his round came to a halt following a 6-2, 7-5 defeat.

Scott Lipsky was eliminated in the second round of the Mixed Doubles after he and Abigail Spears were beaten in three sets by Sania Mirza and Bob Bryan.

Weintraub reflects on finest hour

Simon Griver — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:02:51 +0000

Amir Weintraub described his victory over Argentina's Guido Pella in the first round of the Australian Open as the greatest of his ATP career.

There was a great maturity about Weintraub's performance in the straight sets win over Pella who lies more than 100 places above him in the ATP rankings.

"It's still hard to believe this has happened," said Weintraub. "I can’t stop crying, I'm so excited by this victory, which was my best-ever on the circuit.

"I hope I don't wake up. I want to let this dream go on for as long as possible."

Weintraub, who is 26 and from Rehovot, was playing in his first grand slam tournament after coming through three qualifying rounds in Melbourne.

Ranked 196, Weintraub fought harder to overcome the Argentinean than the scoreline suggests. Showing the form which has helped Israel win promotion to the Davis Cup World Group, the Israeli won the first set on a tie-break and shaded the second set 7-5 before cruising home 6-2 in the third.

Peer knocked out of Australian Open

Danny Caro — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 12:15:01 +0000

Shahar Peer has been knocked out of the Australian Open by the oldest player in the competition.

The Israeli found the going tough in her second-round match against 42-year-old Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan.

A 6-2, 7-5 victory saw Date Krummo become the oldest player to make a Grand Slam third round since 45-year-old Renee Richards in 1979.

It ended another disappointing tournament for Peer who was eliminated from the Women's Doubles on Tuesday.

Amir Weintraub failed to build on his first-round heroics when he was beaten in four sets against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber in the Men's Singles. The Israeli produced a brave performance against the 17th seed before succumbing 6-2, 7-6, 6-4.

Canada's Jesse Levine also bowed out after losing 6-2, 3-6, 6-7, 2-6 to 14th seed Gilles Simon of France.