Andy Ram insists the odds are stacked against Israel winning their Davis Cup promotion playoff against Argentina, starting today.

The tie has been moved from Tel Aviv to Sunrise, Florida due to the security situation in Israel.

Ram, 35, recently said that he would retire from the sport after the match, but victory could result in a change of heart.

He said: “Let’s not look for excuses as to why we are going to lose. The odds are against us, but we can win and I promise to win the doubles.

"If we progress, perhaps I’ll continue playing next season in the World Group."

The match is something of a Jewish derby, with Israeli doubles specialists Jonathan Erlich and Ram, born in
Argentina and Uruguay respectively, while Argentina’s non-playing captain Martin Jaite is also Jewish.

Jaite is stepping down after three years in charge and it will be a major surprise if he fails to keep Argentina in the World Group.

Following a well-documented fall-out with Juan Martin Del Potro, Jaite can still call upon Leonardo Mayer (25), Frederico Delbonis (59) and Carlos Berlocq (67).

Israel’s Dudi Sela (84) claimed a morale boosting victory over Berlocq at the US Open, but Israel chances were hit when Amir Weintraub (263) failed a fitness test following groin surgery. This means twenty-year-old Bar Botzer (776) will be handed a Davis Cup debut.