DAVID WEINER

WITH the 2010 grand slam circuit kicking off at Melbourne Park today (January 18) with the Australian Open, there is no better time for Israeli and Jewish players to build on the success of 2009.

Here are some of the key players to look out for over summer:

DUDI SELA

The spearhead of Israel’s Davis Cup side became only the fourth Israeli to play in the fourth round of a grand slam when he reached the final 16 at Wimbledon in 2009.

This time last year, Sela had to endure three-rounds of qualifying to play in Melbourne -– where he eventually bowed out in the third round.

This year though, the diminutive stroke-maker arrives full of confidence, ranked 40th in the world and buoyed by a strong semifinal showing in Chennai, where he gave world number 21 Stanislas Wawrinka a run. He followed that up with a first-round loss to Julian Benneteau at the Sydney International.

SHAHAR PEER

Israel’s number-one female player has found herself under fire from politically minded spectators in 2010, but was still able to maintain focus to reach the semifinals in Auckland last week.

The world number 30 claimed two titles in September -– Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Guangzhou, China -– to break a three-year winning drought. She is a Federation Cup spearhead for her country, but will be hoping for a better result in grand slams this year -– her best result was reaching the third round at the US Open in 2009.

The second seed at this week’s Hobart International, she will meet Alona Bondarenko in the final on January 18

ANDY RAM

Andy Ram is one of the world’s finest doubles exponents. In 2009, he reached the Australian Open mixed doubles final with Frenchwoman Natalie Dechy, and the US Open men’s doubles semifinal with Belarus’ Max Mirnyi.

The ninth-ranked player will likely team with France’s Michael Llodra this summer, after winning with Mirnyi in Miami and making five other finals last year.

JONATHAN ERLICH

Ram’s former doubles partner has suffered a dogged few years due to injury. The highlight of 2009 was his reunion with Ram in the Davis Cup, and a title in Turkey with compatriot Harel Levy in May.

However, the former grand slam doubles winner’s ranking has slipped to 187.

ALEKSANDRA WOZNIAK

Aleksandra Wozniak became the first Canadian woman in 17 years to reach the second week of a grand slam, when she lost to Serena Williams in the fourth round at the French Open last year.

The right-hander backed it up, reaching the third round at the US Open, and finished the year ranked 34 in the world.