Andy Ram … the last Israeli competing at the US Open.
AJN STAFF
ISRAEL’S Andy Ram and Belarusian doubles partner Max Myrni are through to the semifinals of the US Open, after ousting Canadian Daniel Nestor and Serb Nenad Zimonjic 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-4 at Flushing Meadows, New York, on Tuesday.
Ram is the last remaining Israeli at the US Open, after Dudi Sela and his doubles partner Yen-Hsun Lu of Taiwan exited in the third round, going down to Mahesh Bupathi of India and Mark Knowles of Bahamas in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.
While both Ram and Myrni have doubles Grand Slam titles to their names, it is the first time the pair will play together in a semifinal.
In their quarterfinal match the first set was an arm wrestle, with Nestor and Zimonjic eventually prevailing in a tie-break. But dropping the first set seemed to rouse Ram and Myrni, who went on to dominate the match.
The pair will face Bupathi and Knowles for a spot in the US Open final.
Earlier in the week, Israeli Dudi Sela suffered an early exit in the men’s singles, following a four-set loss to US unknown Kevin Kim 6-3, 0-6, 6-2, 6-2 in their first-round match.
Former world number 15 Shahar Peer made it through to the third round, before being bundled out by world number six Svetlana Kuznetzova in straight sets 7-5, 6-1.
Peer and her Argentine partner Gisela Dulko were knocked out of the women’s doubles by third-seeded Australian pair Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs 7-5, 6-3, ending the Israeli’s campaign in New York.
Other Jewish players at Flushing Meadows include Wayne Odesnik, who was bundled out in the first round by the 17th seed Czech Tomas Berdych, while Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak was ousted in the third round by 10th seed Italian Flavia Penetta.
