Israel's Jonathan Erlich in action in the men’s doubles at the Australian Open 2010. Photo: Peter Haskin

ADAM KAMIEN

FORMER Australian Open doubles champion Yoni Erlich and playing partner Arnaud Celement are through to the quarterfinals of the 2010 championship after ousting swede Johan Brunstrom and Jean-Julien Rojer 6-3, 0-6, 7-5 on January 24.

Erlich appears to have found top form at the right time, after struggling to have an impact since returning from an eight-month injury layoff in April last year.

The pair now faces Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic in the quarterfinals on January 27.

Erlich and former doubles partner Andy Ram are the only Israelis left in the draw after Dudi Sela and Shahar Peer bowed out the men’s and women’s doubles competitions respectively.

Ram and partner Elena Vesina are through to the third round of the mixed doubles, the eighth seeds accounting for German pair Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Christopher Kas, 3-6, 7-5, 10-8.

Ram and Vesina look likely to come up against the number one seeds Cara Black and Leander Payes on January 26.
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Israeli tennis player Dudi Sela. Photo: AJN file/Peter Haskin

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.
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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.
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Israeli Andy Ram. Photo: AJN file

AJN STAFF

ISRAEL’S Andy Ram and Belarusian doubles partner Max Myrni are through to the quarterfinals of the US Open, after edging Italians Simone Bolelli and Andreas Seppi 7-6 (5), 6-7 (8), 6-2 at Flushing Meadows.

Israeli Dudi Sela and his doubles partner Yen-Hsun Lu moved into the third round after their opponents pulled put because of injury. The pair will face third seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Sela suffered an early exit from the singles tournament following a four-set loss to US unknown Kevin Kim 6-3, 0-6, 6-2, 6-2 in their first-round match.

It has been a disappointing tournament for top Israeli player Shahar Peer, who went down to world number six Svetlana Kuznetzova in straight sets 7-5, 6-1 in the third round.

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.
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Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich … winning form in Davis Cup. Photo: AJN file/Peter Haskin

JERUSALEM — Israel has advanced to the semifinals of the Davis Cup for the first time after defeating Russia. Saturday’s victory by doubles team Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich sent Israel to the semis.

The Russians have won the Davis Cup twice.

Israel team captain Eyal Ran said: “I am so proud to be an Israeli today, to be a part of this team, so proud to be part of this sport and Davis Cup tennis.”

Israel will play the winner of the quarterfinal match between defending champion Spain and Germany.  If Germany prevails, Israel will host the semifinals from September 18-20. Otherwise the match will be in Spain.
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AJN STAFF

ISRAELI tennis player Andy Ram has been granted a visa to enter the United Arab Emirates (UAE) less than a week after compatriot and world number 38 Shahar Peer was denied. Ram said he was pleased with the result and that common sense had prevailed.

“I am pleased that the UAE have today confirmed that I will be able to travel to their country next week to compete in the Dubai Tennis Championships,” said Ram, one of the top doubles players in the world, in a statement. “As a professional tennis player I thrive on competing at the world’s best events and next week will be no different. Read the full story