Israel Davis Cup team
Encyclopedia
The Israel Davis Cup team (Hebrew
: נבחרת גביע דייוויס של ישראל) represents Israel
in Davis Cup
tennis
competition and is governed by the Israel Tennis Association
.
The team plays primarily in Canada Stadium
, which is the main venue of the Tennis Center in Ramat Hasharon
, in Israel. The stadium is known for its high intensity, tough crowd, and good home environment. The surface is considered hard by world standards, a feature that plays to the advantage of Israeli competitors already used to it. The tough surface and even tougher crowd have earned the venue the nickname "Israhell" among visiting players.
Over the protests of all four of their own players (including Harel Levy
, who said: ""Only Ramat Hasharon. We're not even thinking about Nokia. There's no reason to play against the Russians indoors – we love Ramat Hasharon"), who preferred to play outdoors in the heat on the hard court that they are accustomed to, the ITA moved the tie against Russia in 2009 to the larger indoor Nokia Stadium. But the ITA was sensitive to the fact that the indoor arena has a capacity of 11,000 – more than double that of the Canada Stadium. ITA CEO Moshe Haviv denied that his prime consideration was the extra money such a move would bring in, and said the larger stadium would give more Israelis the chance to see the national team play, and allow them to watch the sport in more comfortable conditions.
This was the second time Israel played a home match at Nokia Arena, the previous one have been against France on 1989.
.
-Israel Davis Cup match began in September 2007, even The Jewish Chronicle
wrote: "Led by Fernando González (6) and Nicolás Massú (72), it is hard to see Israel's Dudi Sela (105) and Noam Okun (186), backed up by doubles specialists Andy Ram
and Jonathan Erlich
, winning the contest. González and Massú are also a formidable doubles partnership, having won the Olympic gold medal in Athens in 2004."
That same month, before playing Nicolás Massú
of Chile in the first match of the tie, Sela said: "We like being the underdog. I'm very pleased with the fact that I'm playing first and I'm very confident of claiming the win." He then proceeded to upset Massu, ranked # 72 in the world, and formerly ranked # 9 in the world, in a 5-hour 7-minute match, 6–3, 6–4, 6–7 (3), 6–4. "This is definitely the biggest win in my career", Sela said afterwards. Later in that Davis Cup tie, Dudi Sela defeated # 7 in the world Fernando González
4–6, 7–6 (5), 5–7, 7–6 (7), 6–3 in a 5-hour 1-minute match. It is arguably the greatest tennis match ever played in Israel. The victory lifted Israel over Chile and into 2008's World Group. Gonzalez was at the time the highest-ranked player Sela had ever beaten in his career (he later beat world # 5 David Ferrer in Beijing in September 2008), and his 6th upset of a top-100 player in the first 9 months of the year. Elated, Sela said "This is definitely the happiest day of my life." Sela was congratulated over the phone by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
and President Shimon Peres
after the match.
, Israel hosted Sweden
in Ramat HaSharon
. Sela started with a win against world # 71 Jonas Björkman
7–6, 6–3, 6–1, and gave Israel an advantage of 1–0. He then lost to world # 60 Thomas Johansson
7–6 (6), 6–1, 7–5, as Israel lost the tie 3–2.
against the Peru Davis Cup team
at Ramat Hasharon, Dudi Sela
beat Iván Miranda
in the first singles match, but Harel Levy
then lost to Luis Horna
. Levy then paired with Andy Ram
to win the doubles tie, before Sela defeated Horna in four sets to ensure the Israeli national tennis team victory over Peru and send it through to the 2009 Davis Cup World Group. Noam Okun
then defeated Miranda to close out a 4–1 victory. Horna praised the 91st-ranked Sela, saying: "His ranking is not reflective, he will be close to the top 50 in the world." Horna presciently opined that the Israelis could advance to the quarters, or even the semifinals, saying that Israel is a "great team". Israeli captain Eyal Ran
said: "It's an amazing effort for a small country like Israel to be among the top 16 tennis nations in the world. It's hard to take in, but I think we deserve it."
. An amusing moment occurred during Sela's opening match when the Israeli fans, to the Que Sera, Sera tune of the Doris Day
hit song from the 1950s, sang "Dudi Sela, Sela, whatever will be will be." Sela led the Israeli team to a come-from-behind 3–2 victory over the 7-time Davis Cup champion Swedes at Baltic Hall in Malmö
, Sweden, to advance in the 2009 Davis Cup.
Sela won each of his singles matches in 5 sets, coming from behind to defeat Andreas Vinciguerra
in his hometown 4–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 11–9, and came from behind to stun 2002 Australian Open
champion Thomas Johansson
3–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2. Sela views it as the biggest win of his career to that point. In their 84-year Davis Cup history, the Swedes had never before lost a tie after holding a 2–1 lead. The last time Israel's Davis Cup team reached the level of being one the top eight tennis nations in the world was in 1987, against India
.
(which won in both 2002 and 2006, and was the top-ranked country in Davis Cup standings, with 27,897 points) in a Davis Cup quarterfinal tie in July 2009, on indoor hard courts at the Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv. Israel was represented by Dudi Sela
, Harel Levy
, Jonathan Erlich
, and Andy Ram
. Russia's lineup consisted of Marat Safin
(# 24 in the world; former world # 1), Igor Andreev
(26), Igor Kunitsyn
(35), and Mikhail Youzhny
(44; former world # 8). Sela said before the tie: "We feel we can beat the Russians." The stage was then set by Safin, who prior to the tie told the press: "With all due respect, Israel was lucky to get to the quarterfinals." The Israeli team's response was to beat the Russian team in each of their first three matches, thereby winning the tie. Levy was aware that the Russians thought he was incapable of playing at their level, let alone beating Russia's top player, Andreev. Levy, ranked what the Russian press referred to as a "lowly" world # 210, beat Andreev, world # 24, 6–4, 6–2, 4–6, 6–2 in the opening match. Levy said: "I had a feeling Andreev couldn't hurt me in any way, while I could do almost anything, and that made me very calm. I forced him to feel very uncomfortable on the court, lowering his confidence, and his game became more simple." Sela (# 33) followed by beating Russian Youzhny 3–6, 6–1, 6–0, 7–5. Israeli captain Eyal Ran
likened his players to two fighter jets on court, saying: "I felt as if I had two F-16s out there today, they played amazingly well." The 10,500 spectators were the largest crowd ever for a tennis match in Israel.
The next day Israelis Ram and Erlich beat Safin and Kunitsyn 6–3, 6–4, 6–7 (3), 4–6, 6–4 in front of a boisterous crowd of over 10,000. "I started to cry like a little boy", said Ram. "This is something I will cherish for all of my life", said Erlich. He added, "Everybody has dreams, but there are some you don’t allow yourself to have, and beating Russia 3–0 was just like that .. but we have done it." Coach Ran was carried shoulder-high around the Tel Aviv stadium, as the 10,000-strong crowd applauded. Even the Saudi Gazette
described the doubles match as a "thrilling" win. Ram said: "We have all grown up together since the age of 14. The reason we are in the semis is because we are a united team." Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, noting that the team had "filled the nation with pride", said "We're once again on the map."
With the tie clinched for Israel, the reverse singles rubbers were "dead", and instead of best-of-five matches, best-of-three sets were played, with the outcomes of little to no importance. Israel wrapped up a 4–1 victory over Russia, as Levy defeated Kunitsyn 6–4, 4–6, 7–6 (2), while Sela retired with a wrist injury while down 3–4 in the first set against Andreev.
in Murcia, Spain on September 18–20, 2009, in Israel's first appearance in the Davis Cup semifinals.
Challenges for the Israelis included the facts that the Spanish fans are no less raucous than Israel's, the tie was played on clay courts, and the Spanish team had won 16 straight Davis Cup ties at home. "It will be very difficult against Spain", Levy admitted. "We don't deceive ourselves... We'll prepare ourselves as much as possible, and we'll try to be the ones who finally break their crazy streak." "Everything is possible, everything starts at zero-zero", said Erlich. "Obviously it will be very difficult, especially playing there on clay. We do our best, we give our hearts and more than that we cannot do."
Despite the absence of Spain's two best players, Rafael Nadal
and Fernando Verdasco
, the home team took a 2–0 lead on the first day with straight sets wins for David Ferrer
over Harel Levy and Juan Carlos Ferrero
over Dudi Sela. In the doubles match, Tommy Robredo
and Feliciano López
beat Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich in four sets and secured overall victory for Spain. The two dead singles were split: Ferrer defeated Ram and Harel Levy beat López, to make the final score 4–1 for Spain.
The tie was delayed by one day because of the earthquake that hit Chile
a few days earlier, and was played on March 6–8 at Coquimbo
. Chile won the tie 4–1, with Andy Ram
and Jonathan Erlich
giving Israel the only rubber in the doubles match.
(world #6 in doubles) http://www.daviscup.com/en/results/tie/details.aspx?tieID=100014747.
It defeated Poland in the second round tie at home in March 2011. Dudi Sela defeated Marcin Gawron
6–1, 6–3, 6–4, and Amir Weintraub
in his Davis Cup debut beat Jerzy Janowicz
4–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–7 (4–7), 6–3. Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich then beat Marcin Matkowski
and Mariusz Fyrstenberg
4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–1 at the Israel Tennis Center in Ramat Hasharon.
at Canada Stadium in Ramat Hasharon
, Israel. Canada is led by Milos Raonic
(# 25 in May 2011; Canada's highest-ranked male player ever), who is joined by Vasek Pospisil
(# 124 in September 2011). The teams split the first two matches in two upsets, as Pospisil defeated Dudi Sela 7–6 (4), 6–7 (6), 6–1, 6–7 (2), 6–3, and Amir Weintraub beat Raonic 5–7, 7–5, 6–3, 6–1.
, 16 years and 170 days
Oldest Player: Eleazar Davidman
, 34 years and 148 days
Most wins: Shlomo Glickstein
, 44 wins (22 losses)
Most singles wins: Glickstein, 31 wins (13 losses)
Most doubles wins: Jonathan Erlich, 13 wins (5 losses), Andy Ram, 13 wins (6 losses), Glickstein, 13 wins (9 losses)
Most ties played: Glickstein, 24 ties
Most matches played: Glickstein, 66 matches (44 singles, 22 doubles)
Most years played: Davidman, 15 years
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: נבחרת גביע דייוויס של ישראל) represents Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
competition and is governed by the Israel Tennis Association
Israel Tennis Association
The Israel Tennis Association , founded in 1950, is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in Israel. The ITA governs the arrangements for Israeli tennis leagues and tournaments, Israel's Davis Cup participation, and Israeli participation in tennis tournaments abroad...
.
The team plays primarily in Canada Stadium
Canada Stadium (Israel)
The Canada Stadium in Ramat Hasharon is the main tennis venue in Israel and is used mainly by the Israeli Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams.-History:...
, which is the main venue of the Tennis Center in Ramat Hasharon
Ramat Hasharon
Ramat HaSharon is a city located on Israel's central coastal strip in the south of the Sharon region, bordering Tel Aviv to the south and Herzliya and Kibbutz Glil Yam to the north. It is part of the Tel Aviv District, within Gush Dan metropolitan area...
, in Israel. The stadium is known for its high intensity, tough crowd, and good home environment. The surface is considered hard by world standards, a feature that plays to the advantage of Israeli competitors already used to it. The tough surface and even tougher crowd have earned the venue the nickname "Israhell" among visiting players.
Over the protests of all four of their own players (including Harel Levy
Harel Levy
Har'el Levy is an Israeli professional male tennis player. Levy's best singles ranking was # 30 in the world in 2001, and his best doubles ranking was # 76 in 2007....
, who said: ""Only Ramat Hasharon. We're not even thinking about Nokia. There's no reason to play against the Russians indoors – we love Ramat Hasharon"), who preferred to play outdoors in the heat on the hard court that they are accustomed to, the ITA moved the tie against Russia in 2009 to the larger indoor Nokia Stadium. But the ITA was sensitive to the fact that the indoor arena has a capacity of 11,000 – more than double that of the Canada Stadium. ITA CEO Moshe Haviv denied that his prime consideration was the extra money such a move would bring in, and said the larger stadium would give more Israelis the chance to see the national team play, and allow them to watch the sport in more comfortable conditions.
This was the second time Israel played a home match at Nokia Arena, the previous one have been against France on 1989.
Current team (highest ranking)
- Dudi SelaDudi SelaDavid "Dudi" Sela is an Israeli professional tennis player.Sela reached a career-high singles ranking of # 29 in July 2009. He is currently Israel's top men's singles player, ahead of Amir Weintraub.As a 17-year-old junior, he won the 2003 French Open boys' doubles championship with his doubles...
(singles # 29) - Harel LevyHarel LevyHar'el Levy is an Israeli professional male tennis player. Levy's best singles ranking was # 30 in the world in 2001, and his best doubles ranking was # 76 in 2007....
(singles # 30) - Amir WeintraubAmir WeintraubAmir Weintraub is an Israeli professional tennis player. He is the current Israeli champion, and is currently ranked No...
(singles # 216) - Jonathan ErlichJonathan ErlichJonathan Dario "Yoni" Erlich is a professional Israeli tennis player...
(doubles # 5) - Andy RamAndy RamAndy Ram is a professional tennis player from Israel, and the first Israeli tennis player to win a seniors Grand Slam event . He plays more doubles than singles as he prefers doubles more and wins more matches...
(doubles # 5) - Noam OkunNoam OkunNoam Okun is a professional tennis player.In 2002, Okun reached a career-high singles ranking of # 95 in the world...
(singles # 95)
History
Israel competed in its first Davis Cup in 19491949 Davis Cup
The 1949 Davis Cup was the 38th edition of the most important tournament between national teams in men's tennis. 28 teams would enter the competition, 24 in the Europe Zone, and 4 in the Americas Zone....
.
| Israel squad at 1949 Davis Cup | |||
| Player | |||
| Arie Avidan-Weiss | Singles | ||
| Yehuda Finkelkraut | Singles & Doubles | ||
| Rafael Gornitsky | Doubles | ||
| Israel squad against Denmark Denmark Davis Cup team The Denmark Davis Cup team represents Denmark in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Danish Tennis Association.Denmark currently compete in the Europe/Africa Zone of Group II. They competed in the World Group from 1988 to 1989 and again from 1993 to 1996... in 28–30 April, 1949 |
|||
Chile
Before the ChileChile Davis Cup team
The Chile Davis Cup Team represents Chile in Davis Cup tennis tournament and is governed by Chile Tennis Federation. The team is currently captained by former Chilean tennis player Hans Gildemeister.-History:...
-Israel Davis Cup match began in September 2007, even The Jewish Chronicle
The Jewish Chronicle
The Jewish Chronicle is a London-based Jewish newspaper. Founded in 1841, it is the oldest continuously published Jewish newspaper in the world.-Publication data and readership figures:...
wrote: "Led by Fernando González (6) and Nicolás Massú (72), it is hard to see Israel's Dudi Sela (105) and Noam Okun (186), backed up by doubles specialists Andy Ram
Andy Ram
Andy Ram is a professional tennis player from Israel, and the first Israeli tennis player to win a seniors Grand Slam event . He plays more doubles than singles as he prefers doubles more and wins more matches...
and Jonathan Erlich
Jonathan Erlich
Jonathan Dario "Yoni" Erlich is a professional Israeli tennis player...
, winning the contest. González and Massú are also a formidable doubles partnership, having won the Olympic gold medal in Athens in 2004."
That same month, before playing Nicolás Massú
Nicolás Massú
Nicolás Alejandro Massú Fried , nicknamed Vampiro , is a Chilean tennis player, a former world number nine in singles, and a two-time Olympic gold medalist...
of Chile in the first match of the tie, Sela said: "We like being the underdog. I'm very pleased with the fact that I'm playing first and I'm very confident of claiming the win." He then proceeded to upset Massu, ranked # 72 in the world, and formerly ranked # 9 in the world, in a 5-hour 7-minute match, 6–3, 6–4, 6–7 (3), 6–4. "This is definitely the biggest win in my career", Sela said afterwards. Later in that Davis Cup tie, Dudi Sela defeated # 7 in the world Fernando González
Fernando González
----Fernando Francisco González Ciuffardi is a professional tennis player from Chile. He is known for having one of the hardest forehands on the circuit. In Spanish he is called El Bombardero de La Reina and Mano de Piedra...
4–6, 7–6 (5), 5–7, 7–6 (7), 6–3 in a 5-hour 1-minute match. It is arguably the greatest tennis match ever played in Israel. The victory lifted Israel over Chile and into 2008's World Group. Gonzalez was at the time the highest-ranked player Sela had ever beaten in his career (he later beat world # 5 David Ferrer in Beijing in September 2008), and his 6th upset of a top-100 player in the first 9 months of the year. Elated, Sela said "This is definitely the happiest day of my life." Sela was congratulated over the phone by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert is an Israeli politician and lawyer. He served as Prime Minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009, as a Cabinet Minister from 1988 to 1992 and from 2003 to 2006, and as Mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003....
and President Shimon Peres
Shimon Peres
GCMG is the ninth President of the State of Israel. Peres served twice as the eighth Prime Minister of Israel and once as Interim Prime Minister, and has been a member of 12 cabinets in a political career spanning over 66 years...
after the match.
2008
Sweden
In the 2008 World Group2008 Davis Cup World Group
The World Group is the highest level of Davis Cup competition in 2008. The first round losers go into the 2008 Davis Cup World Group Play-offs while the winners progress to the quarterfinals. The quarterfinalists are guaranteed a World Group spot for 2009....
, Israel hosted Sweden
Sweden Davis Cup team
The Sweden Davis Cup team represents Sweden in Davis Cup tennis competition and is governed by the Svenska Tennisförbundet.Sweden is the 5th most successful nation, winning the title 7 times...
in Ramat HaSharon
Ramat Hasharon
Ramat HaSharon is a city located on Israel's central coastal strip in the south of the Sharon region, bordering Tel Aviv to the south and Herzliya and Kibbutz Glil Yam to the north. It is part of the Tel Aviv District, within Gush Dan metropolitan area...
. Sela started with a win against world # 71 Jonas Björkman
Jonas Björkman
Jonas Lars Björkman is a former World Number 4 Swedish professional tennis player. He is also a former World No. 1 in doubles. Björkman retired from professional tennis after competing at the 2008 Tennis Masters Cup Doubles championships....
7–6, 6–3, 6–1, and gave Israel an advantage of 1–0. He then lost to world # 60 Thomas Johansson
Thomas Johansson
Karl Thomas Conny Johansson , commonly known as Thomas Johansson, is a former Swedish professional tennis player. He is a former Australian Open singles champion and Olympic silver medalist in doubles.-Junior career:...
7–6 (6), 6–1, 7–5, as Israel lost the tie 3–2.
Peru
In the September 2008 World Group Playoffs2008 Davis Cup World Group Play-offs
This article gives details on the 2008 Davis Cup World Group play-offs. The ties were played on the weekend of 19 to 21 September 2008 and the winners would return to the World Group for 2009. The eight losing teams from the 2008 Davis Cup World Group first round ties and the eight Group 1 winners...
against the Peru Davis Cup team
Peru Davis Cup team
The Peru Davis Cup Team is the Davis Cup team that represents the nation of Peru. The team is governed by the Federación de Tenis de Peru. They currently compete in the Americas Zone Group I, and their best result was reaching the World Group in 2008....
at Ramat Hasharon, Dudi Sela
Dudi Sela
David "Dudi" Sela is an Israeli professional tennis player.Sela reached a career-high singles ranking of # 29 in July 2009. He is currently Israel's top men's singles player, ahead of Amir Weintraub.As a 17-year-old junior, he won the 2003 French Open boys' doubles championship with his doubles...
beat Iván Miranda
Ivan Miranda
Iván Miranda Chang , is a professional tennis player from Peru. He achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 104 in 2003....
in the first singles match, but Harel Levy
Harel Levy
Har'el Levy is an Israeli professional male tennis player. Levy's best singles ranking was # 30 in the world in 2001, and his best doubles ranking was # 76 in 2007....
then lost to Luis Horna
Luis Horna
Luis Horna Biscari is a former tour professional tennis player from Peru, who turned professional in 1998. Horna plays right-handed, he has a strong serve for a relatively short player and the forehand is his best stroke. He uses a single-handed backhand and his favourite surface is clay...
. Levy then paired with Andy Ram
Andy Ram
Andy Ram is a professional tennis player from Israel, and the first Israeli tennis player to win a seniors Grand Slam event . He plays more doubles than singles as he prefers doubles more and wins more matches...
to win the doubles tie, before Sela defeated Horna in four sets to ensure the Israeli national tennis team victory over Peru and send it through to the 2009 Davis Cup World Group. Noam Okun
Noam Okun
Noam Okun is a professional tennis player.In 2002, Okun reached a career-high singles ranking of # 95 in the world...
then defeated Miranda to close out a 4–1 victory. Horna praised the 91st-ranked Sela, saying: "His ranking is not reflective, he will be close to the top 50 in the world." Horna presciently opined that the Israelis could advance to the quarters, or even the semifinals, saying that Israel is a "great team". Israeli captain Eyal Ran
Eyal Ran
Eyal Ran is a professional Israeli tennis player and Captain of the Israeli Davis Cup team.His career high ATP ranking in singles was 138 , and in doubles it was 71 .-Tennis career:...
said: "It's an amazing effort for a small country like Israel to be among the top 16 tennis nations in the world. It's hard to take in, but I think we deserve it."
2009
Sweden
In the 2009 World Group Playoffs in March 2009, Israel again faced seven-time Davis Cup champion SwedenSweden Davis Cup team
The Sweden Davis Cup team represents Sweden in Davis Cup tennis competition and is governed by the Svenska Tennisförbundet.Sweden is the 5th most successful nation, winning the title 7 times...
. An amusing moment occurred during Sela's opening match when the Israeli fans, to the Que Sera, Sera tune of the Doris Day
Doris Day
Doris Day is an American actress, singer and, since her retirement from show business, an animal rights activist. With an entertainment career that spanned through almost 50 years, Day started her career as a big band singer in 1939, but only began to be noticed after her first hit recording,...
hit song from the 1950s, sang "Dudi Sela, Sela, whatever will be will be." Sela led the Israeli team to a come-from-behind 3–2 victory over the 7-time Davis Cup champion Swedes at Baltic Hall in Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
, Sweden, to advance in the 2009 Davis Cup.
Sela won each of his singles matches in 5 sets, coming from behind to defeat Andreas Vinciguerra
Andreas Vinciguerra
Andreas Vinciguerra is a tennis player from Sweden, who turned professional in 1998. He was an impressive junior, winning the European junior championships and making the final of the junior Australian Open when he was 17, when he finished number 6 in the junior rankings.-Tennis career:Vinciguerra...
in his hometown 4–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 11–9, and came from behind to stun 2002 Australian Open
2002 Australian Open
List of the 2002 Australian Open champions:-Men's Singles: Thomas Johansson def. Marat Safin, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 7–6...
champion Thomas Johansson
Thomas Johansson
Karl Thomas Conny Johansson , commonly known as Thomas Johansson, is a former Swedish professional tennis player. He is a former Australian Open singles champion and Olympic silver medalist in doubles.-Junior career:...
3–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2. Sela views it as the biggest win of his career to that point. In their 84-year Davis Cup history, the Swedes had never before lost a tie after holding a 2–1 lead. The last time Israel's Davis Cup team reached the level of being one the top eight tennis nations in the world was in 1987, against India
India Davis Cup team
The India Davis Cup team represents India in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the All India Tennis Association.India finished as runners-up 3 times . In 1974, the final was scratched and South Africa were awarded the Davis Cup after India refused to particapate in the final due to...
.
Russia
Israel (ranked 8th in the Davis Cup standings, with 5,394 points) hosted heavily favored RussiaRussia Davis Cup team
The Russia Davis Cup team represents Russia in Davis Cup tennis competition and is governed by the Russian Tennis Federation. The team started playing in 1993....
(which won in both 2002 and 2006, and was the top-ranked country in Davis Cup standings, with 27,897 points) in a Davis Cup quarterfinal tie in July 2009, on indoor hard courts at the Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv. Israel was represented by Dudi Sela
Dudi Sela
David "Dudi" Sela is an Israeli professional tennis player.Sela reached a career-high singles ranking of # 29 in July 2009. He is currently Israel's top men's singles player, ahead of Amir Weintraub.As a 17-year-old junior, he won the 2003 French Open boys' doubles championship with his doubles...
, Harel Levy
Harel Levy
Har'el Levy is an Israeli professional male tennis player. Levy's best singles ranking was # 30 in the world in 2001, and his best doubles ranking was # 76 in 2007....
, Jonathan Erlich
Jonathan Erlich
Jonathan Dario "Yoni" Erlich is a professional Israeli tennis player...
, and Andy Ram
Andy Ram
Andy Ram is a professional tennis player from Israel, and the first Israeli tennis player to win a seniors Grand Slam event . He plays more doubles than singles as he prefers doubles more and wins more matches...
. Russia's lineup consisted of Marat Safin
Marat Safin
Marat Mikhailovich Safin is a retired Russian tennis player of Tatar descent. Safin won two grand slams and reached the world number 1 ranking during his career. He was also famous for his emotional outbursts and sometimes fiery temper on court. Safin also holds the record for most broken...
(# 24 in the world; former world # 1), Igor Andreev
Igor Andreev
Igor Valerievich Andreev is a Russian professional tennis player, born in Moscow.-2003:Andreev made his ATP debut in September 2003 at Bucharest, Romania as a qualifier and defeated top seed Nikolay Davydenko 7–5, 6–7, 6–0 in the first round, before losing in the next round to José Acasuso.At the...
(26), Igor Kunitsyn
Igor Kunitsyn
Igor Kunitsyn is a professional male tennis player from Russia. He made it into the top 100 for the first time in 2006, and reached a career-high singles ranking of 35 on July 6, 2009.-Early life:...
(35), and Mikhail Youzhny
Mikhail Youzhny
Mikhail Mikhailovich Youzhny , is a professional Russian tennis player, noted for his consistency and all-court play style. He has been coached by Boris Sobkin for 17 years....
(44; former world # 8). Sela said before the tie: "We feel we can beat the Russians." The stage was then set by Safin, who prior to the tie told the press: "With all due respect, Israel was lucky to get to the quarterfinals." The Israeli team's response was to beat the Russian team in each of their first three matches, thereby winning the tie. Levy was aware that the Russians thought he was incapable of playing at their level, let alone beating Russia's top player, Andreev. Levy, ranked what the Russian press referred to as a "lowly" world # 210, beat Andreev, world # 24, 6–4, 6–2, 4–6, 6–2 in the opening match. Levy said: "I had a feeling Andreev couldn't hurt me in any way, while I could do almost anything, and that made me very calm. I forced him to feel very uncomfortable on the court, lowering his confidence, and his game became more simple." Sela (# 33) followed by beating Russian Youzhny 3–6, 6–1, 6–0, 7–5. Israeli captain Eyal Ran
Eyal Ran
Eyal Ran is a professional Israeli tennis player and Captain of the Israeli Davis Cup team.His career high ATP ranking in singles was 138 , and in doubles it was 71 .-Tennis career:...
likened his players to two fighter jets on court, saying: "I felt as if I had two F-16s out there today, they played amazingly well." The 10,500 spectators were the largest crowd ever for a tennis match in Israel.
The next day Israelis Ram and Erlich beat Safin and Kunitsyn 6–3, 6–4, 6–7 (3), 4–6, 6–4 in front of a boisterous crowd of over 10,000. "I started to cry like a little boy", said Ram. "This is something I will cherish for all of my life", said Erlich. He added, "Everybody has dreams, but there are some you don’t allow yourself to have, and beating Russia 3–0 was just like that .. but we have done it." Coach Ran was carried shoulder-high around the Tel Aviv stadium, as the 10,000-strong crowd applauded. Even the Saudi Gazette
Saudi Gazette
Saudi Gazette is the leading English language daily newspaper published in Saudi Arabia. and is currently available both in print and online.As of July 1, 2011, Dr Omar S. Elmershedi is the Saudi Gazette Editor-in-Chief.Managing Editor: Shams Ahsan...
described the doubles match as a "thrilling" win. Ram said: "We have all grown up together since the age of 14. The reason we are in the semis is because we are a united team." Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, noting that the team had "filled the nation with pride", said "We're once again on the map."
With the tie clinched for Israel, the reverse singles rubbers were "dead", and instead of best-of-five matches, best-of-three sets were played, with the outcomes of little to no importance. Israel wrapped up a 4–1 victory over Russia, as Levy defeated Kunitsyn 6–4, 4–6, 7–6 (2), while Sela retired with a wrist injury while down 3–4 in the first set against Andreev.
Spain
Israel next faced the defending champion SpainSpain Davis Cup team
The Spain Davis Cup team represents Spain in the Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Real Federación Española de Tenis, presided over by José Luis Escañuela....
in Murcia, Spain on September 18–20, 2009, in Israel's first appearance in the Davis Cup semifinals.
Challenges for the Israelis included the facts that the Spanish fans are no less raucous than Israel's, the tie was played on clay courts, and the Spanish team had won 16 straight Davis Cup ties at home. "It will be very difficult against Spain", Levy admitted. "We don't deceive ourselves... We'll prepare ourselves as much as possible, and we'll try to be the ones who finally break their crazy streak." "Everything is possible, everything starts at zero-zero", said Erlich. "Obviously it will be very difficult, especially playing there on clay. We do our best, we give our hearts and more than that we cannot do."
Despite the absence of Spain's two best players, Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal
Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. , he is ranked No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals...
and Fernando Verdasco
Fernando Verdasco
Fernando Verdasco Carmona is a professional tennis player. He is currently ranked no. 22 in the world. Verdasco started playing tennis at four years of age and had a full-time coach when he was eight...
, the home team took a 2–0 lead on the first day with straight sets wins for David Ferrer
David Ferrer
David Ferrer Ern is a Spanish professional tennis player who lives in Valencia, Spain who is currently no. 5 in the ATP Rankings and the second-highest ranked Spaniard behind world no. 2 Rafael Nadal. He turned professional in 2000...
over Harel Levy and Juan Carlos Ferrero
Juan Carlos Ferrero
Juan Carlos Ferrero Donat is a professional tennis player, and a former world no. 1 player, from Spain. He captured the men's singles title at the 2003 French Open, and in September of that year, he became the 21st player to hold the world no. 1 ranking. He was also the runner-up at the 2002...
over Dudi Sela. In the doubles match, Tommy Robredo
Tommy Robredo
Tommy Robredo Garcés is a Spanish professional tennis player. On 8 May 2006, he broke into the world's top ten for the first time. His highest singles ranking to date is No...
and Feliciano López
Feliciano López
Feliciano López Diaz-Guerra is a Spanish professional male tennis player. He was born in Toledo and now lives in the Spanish capital Madrid....
beat Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich in four sets and secured overall victory for Spain. The two dead singles were split: Ferrer defeated Ram and Harel Levy beat López, to make the final score 4–1 for Spain.
Chile
Israel was drawn to play the first round tie away to , in a reverse of the 2007 Qualifying Round match.The tie was delayed by one day because of the earthquake that hit Chile
2010 Chile earthquake
The 2010 Chile earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 03:34 local time , having a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, with intense shaking lasting for about three minutes. It ranks as the sixth largest earthquake ever to be recorded by a...
a few days earlier, and was played on March 6–8 at Coquimbo
Coquimbo
Coquimbo is a port city, commune and capital of the Elqui Province, located on the Pan-American Highway, in the Coquimbo Region of Chile. Coquimbo lies in a valley south of La Serena, with which it forms Greater La Serena with more than 400,000 inhabitants. The commune spans an area around the...
. Chile won the tie 4–1, with Andy Ram
Andy Ram
Andy Ram is a professional tennis player from Israel, and the first Israeli tennis player to win a seniors Grand Slam event . He plays more doubles than singles as he prefers doubles more and wins more matches...
and Jonathan Erlich
Jonathan Erlich
Jonathan Dario "Yoni" Erlich is a professional Israeli tennis player...
giving Israel the only rubber in the doubles match.
Austria
In the World Group Playoff Israel played against , beginning September 16, 2010. Israel gave away a 1:0 and a 2:1 lead, and finally lost 2:3 against the Austrian team featuring world #13 Jürgen MelzerJürgen Melzer
Jürgen Melzer is an Austrian tennis player. He reached a career-high ranking of no. 8 on 18 April 2011, and a doubles ranking of no. 6 on 13 September 2010. He is the only current player on the ATP Tour to be ranked in the top 10 in both singles and doubles. He is a left-handed tennis player, but...
(world #6 in doubles) http://www.daviscup.com/en/results/tie/details.aspx?tieID=100014747.
Poland
Israel got a bye in the first round of the Europe/Africa Zone Group I.It defeated Poland in the second round tie at home in March 2011. Dudi Sela defeated Marcin Gawron
Marcin Gawron
Marcin Gawron is a Polish tennis player. He is 72 kg and is 5.8 ft tall. He made the final of the 2006 Wimbledon Junior Championship, but lost to Thiemo de Bakker 2-6, 6-7.-External links:...
6–1, 6–3, 6–4, and Amir Weintraub
Amir Weintraub
Amir Weintraub is an Israeli professional tennis player. He is the current Israeli champion, and is currently ranked No...
in his Davis Cup debut beat Jerzy Janowicz
Jerzy Janowicz
Jerzy Janowicz is a Polish professional tennis player. As of November 15, 2010 Janowicz was ranked third among Polish players behind L. Kubot and M. Przysiezny Jerzy Janowicz is a Polish professional tennis player. As of November 15, 2010 Janowicz was ranked third among Polish players behind...
4–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–7 (4–7), 6–3. Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich then beat Marcin Matkowski
Marcin Matkowski
Marcin Matkowski is a right-handed Polish professional tennis player whose speciality is in doubles. His current partner is Mariusz Fyrstenberg; they have been playing together since 2003, he occasionally plays mixed doubles with Caroline Wozniacki.Matkowski and Fyrstenberg qualified as the eighth...
and Mariusz Fyrstenberg
Mariusz Fyrstenberg
Mariusz Fyrstenberg is a left-handed Polish professional tennis player whose speciality is in doubles. His current partner is Marcin Matkowski; they have been playing together since 2003....
4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–1 at the Israel Tennis Center in Ramat Hasharon.
Canada
On September 16–18, 2011, Israel will play the Canada Davis Cup teamCanada Davis Cup team
The Canada Davis Cup team represents Canada in Davis Cup tennis competition and is governed by Tennis Canada.Canada currently competes in the Americas Zone of Group I. The team's best result came in its first appearance in 1913 when it reached the World Group final, losing to the United States 0–3...
at Canada Stadium in Ramat Hasharon
Ramat Hasharon
Ramat HaSharon is a city located on Israel's central coastal strip in the south of the Sharon region, bordering Tel Aviv to the south and Herzliya and Kibbutz Glil Yam to the north. It is part of the Tel Aviv District, within Gush Dan metropolitan area...
, Israel. Canada is led by Milos Raonic
Milos Raonic
Milos Raonic is a Canadian professional tennis player from Thornhill, Ontario, Canada.Born in what is now Podgorica, Montenegro, Raonic moved to Canada with his family at the age of 3. Raonic is Canada's highest ATP ranked male singles player and the country's highest ever ranked player since...
(# 25 in May 2011; Canada's highest-ranked male player ever), who is joined by Vasek Pospisil
Vasek Pospisil
Vasek Pospisil is a Canadian professional tennis player. Pospisil is currently ranked World No. 124 in singles and No. 115 in doubles, both career highs. As Canada's No. 2 in singles and No...
(# 124 in September 2011). The teams split the first two matches in two upsets, as Pospisil defeated Dudi Sela 7–6 (4), 6–7 (6), 6–1, 6–7 (2), 6–3, and Amir Weintraub beat Raonic 5–7, 7–5, 6–3, 6–1.
Records
Youngest Player: Yair WertheimerYair Wertheimer
Yair Wertheimer is an Israeli former tennis player.-Tennis career:Beginning in 1972, Wertheimer played for the Israeli Davis Cup team and had a 6-4 record in singles and a 5-6 record in doubles....
, 16 years and 170 days
Oldest Player: Eleazar Davidman
Eleazar Davidman
Eleazar Davidman was a Jewish Israeli tennis player.-Tennis career:Davidman was Israel's long-time Number 1 player as early as the age of 20, in 1956, and Israel's first tennis star of international caliber.Starting in 1956 he played 39 matches for the Israel Davis Cup team in Davis Cup...
, 34 years and 148 days
Most wins: Shlomo Glickstein
Shlomo Glickstein
Shlomo Glickstein is an Israeli former professional tennis player.He reached his career-high singles ranking of World # 22 in November 1982, and his career-high doubles ranking of World # 28 in February 1986....
, 44 wins (22 losses)
Most singles wins: Glickstein, 31 wins (13 losses)
Most doubles wins: Jonathan Erlich, 13 wins (5 losses), Andy Ram, 13 wins (6 losses), Glickstein, 13 wins (9 losses)
Most ties played: Glickstein, 24 ties
Most matches played: Glickstein, 66 matches (44 singles, 22 doubles)
Most years played: Davidman, 15 years