Israel eyes off World Group spot

ISRAEL’S hopes of returning to the Davis Cup World Group were handed a boost last week when it was drawn to host Argentina in the playoffs over the weekend of September 12-14.

Israel will be hosting a Davis Cup tie for the first time in more than two years, and while it won’t necessarily be the favourite against a team with five players in the world’s top-100, it will like its chances on the fast courts of Ramat Hasharon or Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv.

Argentina is renowned for its clay court specialists, who will have to manage without world number seven Juan Martin Del Potro, who is set to be out of action until October after recently undergoing surgery on his left wrist.

“I’m happy that we are finally playing at home,” said Israel’s captain Eyal Ran.

“We worked very hard to reach this opportunity to return to the World Group and I’m excited tobegin our preparations for this tie.

“Playing at home is a big bonus for the Israeli tennis fans and our players will receive a massive boost.”

In Del Potro’s absence, Juan Monaco (42) is Argentina’s number one player, with Federico Delbonis (43), Carlos Berlocq (61) and Leonardo Mayer (87) making up the team.

Israel is likely to field the same side that toppled Slovenia in Europe/Africa Zone Group I last week, which includes singles players Dudi Sela and Amir Weintraub, as well as doubles’ duo Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich.

Sela picked up his first win in the competition in two years after beating Grega Zemlja 6-2, 6-7, 6-0, 6-2, while Ram and Erlich re-united after a three-year absence to hold off Zemlja and his doubles’ partner Blaz Rola 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3.

Weintraub defeated Blaz Kavic 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in an epic five-set match in the opening rubber, and after Sela’s crucial win, the final rubber he was scheduled to play in against Rola was not required.

ALLON SINAI – THE JERUSALEM POST

Picture: Peter Haskin

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