Few highlights for Israelis in Brisbane
THE Israeli contingent has arrived down under for the lead up to the Australian Open, but there have been few highlights to speak of.
THE Israeli contingent has arrived down under for the lead up to the Australian Open, but there have been few highlights to speak of.
Pairing up again for the first time their 2008 Australian Open title win, Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich got off to a shaky start, bowing out in the opening round of the Brisbane International against Lukas Dlouhy and Paul Hanley 7-6, 6-2.
Israel’s highest ranked player at 13 in the world and the Australian Open’s 10th seed, Shahar Peer was bundled out in the second round at the same tournament.
After dominating her first round match against Australian Sophie Ferguson, Peer was no match for world number 34 Czech Lucie Safarova, losing in straight sets 6-4, 6-2. Peer will face Frenchwoman Mathilde Johansson in round one of the Australian Open, in a match she should win comfortably.
Still at the Brisbane International and Dudi Sela’s comeback after a back injury got off to a slow start, the world number 95 edged by German Michael Berrer in a tight three-setter.
Sela took the first set easily before succumbing 1-6, 7-6, 6-4. Sela will be hard pressed to replicate his fourth-round finish at Wimbledon in 2009, drawing 2009 US Open winner Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro in the first round of the Australian Open.
In the qualifiers, Israeli Julia Glushko is yet to play her opening match, while compatriot Amir Weintraub failed to make it past the first round.
ADAM KAMIEN
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