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Israel Davis Cup team

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Israel
CaptainJonathan Erlich
ITF ranking30 Steady (20 September 2021)
Highest ITF ranking6 (July 14, 2009)
ColorsBlue & White
First year1949
Years played65
Ties played (W–L)116 (50–66)
Years in
World Group		10 (3–10)
Best finishSemifinal (2009)
Most total winsShlomo Glickstein (44–22)
Most singles winsShlomo Glickstein (31–13)
Most doubles winsJonathan Erlich (24–12)
Best doubles teamJonathan Erlich &
Andy Ram (19–5)
Most ties playedJonathan Erlich (36)
Most years playedJonathan Erlich (19)

The Israel men's national tennis team (Hebrew: נבחרת גביע דייוויס של ישראל) represents Israel in Davis Cup tennis competition and is governed by the Israel Tennis Association. As of June 2020, Jonathan Erlich became Captain of the team.[1]

The team plays primarily in Canada Stadium, which is the main venue of the Tennis Center in Ramat Hasharon, Tel Aviv District, Israel. The stadium is known for its high intensity, tough crowd, and good home environment. The surface is considered hard by world standards, a feature that plays to the advantage of Israeli competitors already used to it. The tough surface and even tougher crowd have earned the venue the nickname "Israhell" among visiting players.[2]

Over the protests of all four of their own players (including Harel Levy, who said: ""Only Ramat Hasharon. We're not even thinking about Nokia. There's no reason to play against the Russians indoors – we love Ramat Hasharon"), who preferred to play outdoors in the heat on the hard court that they are accustomed to, the ITA moved the tie against Russia in 2009 to the larger indoor Nokia Arena.[2][3] But the ITA was sensitive to the fact that the indoor arena has a capacity of 11,000 – more than double that of the Canada Stadium.[3] ITA CEO Moshe Haviv denied that his prime consideration was the extra money such a move would bring in, and said the larger stadium would give more Israelis the chance to see the national team play, and allow them to watch the sport in more comfortable conditions.[3] This was the second time Israel played a home match at Yad Eliyahu Arena, the previous one have been against France in 1989.

Current team (2024)

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History

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Israel competed in its first Davis Cup in 1949.

Israel squad at 1949 Davis Cup
Player
Arie Avidan-Weiss Singles
Yehuda Finkelkraut Singles & Doubles
Rafael Gornitsky Doubles
Israel squad against Denmark in 28–30
April, 1949

2007

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Chile

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Before the Chile-Israel Davis Cup match began in September 2007, even The Jewish Chronicle wrote: "Led by Fernando González (6) and Nicolás Massú (72), it is hard to see Israel's Dudi Sela (105) and Noam Okun (186), backed up by doubles specialists Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich, winning the contest. González and Massú are also a formidable doubles partnership, having won the Olympic gold medal in Athens in 2004."[4]

That same month, before playing Nicolás Massú of Chile in the first match of the tie, Sela said: "We like being the underdog. I'm very pleased with the fact that I'm playing first and I'm very confident of claiming the win."[5] He then proceeded to upset Massu, ranked # 72 in the world, and formerly ranked # 9 in the world, in a 5-hour 7-minute match, 6–3, 6–4, 6–7 (3), 6–4. "This is definitely the biggest win in my career", Sela said afterwards.[6] Later in that Davis Cup tie, Dudi Sela defeated # 7 in the world Fernando González 4–6, 7–6 (5), 5–7, 7–6 (7), 6–3 in a 5-hour 1-minute match. It is arguably the greatest tennis match ever played in Israel.[7] The victory lifted Israel over Chile and into 2008's World Group. Gonzalez was at the time the highest-ranked player Sela had ever beaten in his career (he later beat world # 5 David Ferrer in Beijing in September 2008),[8] and his 6th upset of a top-100 player in the first 9 months of the year. Elated, Sela said "This is definitely the happiest day of my life." Sela was congratulated over the phone by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Shimon Peres after the match.[9]

2008

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Canada Stadium in Ramat Hasharon; 2008

Sweden

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In the 2008 World Group, Israel hosted Sweden in Ramat HaSharon.[10] Sela started with a win against world # 71 Jonas Björkman 7–6, 6–3, 6–1, and gave Israel an advantage of 1–0. He then lost to world # 60 Thomas Johansson 7–6 (6), 6–1, 7–5, as Israel lost the tie 3–2.

Peru

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In the September 2008 World Group Playoffs against the Peru Davis Cup team at Ramat Hasharon, Dudi Sela beat Iván Miranda in the first singles match, but Harel Levy then lost to Luis Horna. Levy then paired with Andy Ram to win the doubles tie, before Sela defeated Horna in four sets to ensure the Israeli national tennis team victory over Peru and send it through to the 2009 Davis Cup World Group. Noam Okun then defeated Miranda to close out a 4–1 victory. Horna praised the 91st-ranked Sela, saying: "His ranking is not reflective, he will be close to the top 50 in the world."[11] Horna presciently opined that the Israelis could advance to the quarters, or even the semifinals, saying that Israel is a "great team".[12] Israeli captain Eyal Ran said: "It's an amazing effort for a small country like Israel to be among the top 16 tennis nations in the world. It's hard to take in, but I think we deserve it."[13]

2009

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Israel Davis Cup team in 2009
(from left to right):Dudi Sela, Andy Ram, Jonathan Erlich, Harel Levy and the captain Eyal Ran

Sweden

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In the 2009 World Group Playoffs in March 2009, Israel again faced seven-time Davis Cup champion Sweden. An amusing moment occurred during Sela's opening match when the Israeli fans, to the Que Sera, Sera tune of the Doris Day hit song from the 1950s, sang "Dudi Sela, Sela, whatever will be will be."[14] Sela led the Israeli team to a come-from-behind 3–2 victory over the 7-time Davis Cup champion Swedes[15] at Baltic Hall in Malmö, Sweden, to advance in the 2009 Davis Cup.

Sela won each of his singles matches in 5 sets, coming from behind to defeat Andreas Vinciguerra in his hometown 4–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 11–9, and came from behind to stun 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson 3–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2. Sela views it as the biggest win of his career to that point. In their 84-year Davis Cup history, the Swedes had never before lost a tie after holding a 2–1 lead. The last time Israel's Davis Cup team reached the level of being one of the top eight tennis nations in the world was in 1987, against India.[16]

Russia

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Israel (ranked 8th in the Davis Cup standings, with 5,394 points) hosted heavily favored Russia (which won in both 2002 and 2006, and was the top-ranked country in Davis Cup standings, with 27,897 points) in a Davis Cup quarterfinal tie in July 2009, on indoor hard courts at the Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv.[17] Israel was represented by Dudi Sela, Harel Levy, Jonathan Erlich, and Andy Ram. Russia's lineup consisted of Marat Safin (# 24 in the world; former world # 1), Igor Andreev (26), Igor Kunitsyn (35), and Mikhail Youzhny (44; former world # 8).[18][19] Sela said before the tie: "We feel we can beat the Russians."[19] The stage was then set by Safin, who prior to the tie told the press: "With all due respect, Israel was lucky to get to the quarterfinals."[20] The Israeli team's response was to beat the Russian team in each of their first three matches, thereby winning the tie. Levy was aware that the Russians thought he was incapable of playing at their level, let alone beating Russia's top player, Andreev.[21] Levy, ranked world # 210, beat Andreev, world # 24, 6–4, 6–2, 4–6, 6–2 in the opening match. Levy said: "I had a feeling Andreev couldn't hurt me in any way, while I could do almost anything, and that made me very calm. I forced him to feel very uncomfortable on the court, lowering his confidence, and his game became more simple."[21] Sela (# 33) followed by beating Russian Youzhny 3–6, 6–1, 6–0, 7–5. Israeli captain Eyal Ran likened his players to two fighter jets on court, saying: "I felt as if I had two F-16s out there today, they played amazingly well." The 10,500 spectators were the largest crowd ever for a tennis match in Israel.[22]

The next day Israelis Ram and Erlich beat Safin and Kunitsyn 6–3, 6–4, 6–7 (3), 4–6, 6–4 in front of a boisterous crowd of over 10,000.[23] "I started to cry like a little boy", said Ram.[24] "This is something I will cherish for all of my life", said Erlich.[25] He added, "Everybody has dreams, but there are some you don’t allow yourself to have, and beating Russia 3–0 was just like that .. but we have done it."[24] Coach Ran was carried shoulder-high around the Tel Aviv stadium, as the 10,000-strong crowd applauded.[26] Even the Saudi Gazette described the doubles match as a "thrilling" win.[27] Ram said: "We have all grown up together since the age of 14. The reason we are in the semis is because we are a united team."[28] Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, noting that the team had "filled the nation with pride", said "We're once again on the map."[29]

With the tie clinched for Israel, the reverse singles rubbers were "dead", and instead of best-of-five matches, best-of-three sets were played, with the outcomes of little to no importance.[25] Israel wrapped up a 4–1 victory over Russia, as Levy defeated Kunitsyn 6–4, 4–6, 7–6 (2), while Sela retired with a wrist injury while down 3–4 in the first set against Andreev.[30]

Spain

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Israel next faced the defending champion Spain in Murcia, Spain on September 18–20, 2009, in Israel's first appearance in the Davis Cup semifinals.[31]

Challenges for the Israelis included the facts that the Spanish fans are raucous, the tie was played on clay courts, and the Spanish team had won 16 straight Davis Cup ties at home.[21] "It will be very difficult against Spain", Levy admitted. "We don't deceive ourselves... We'll prepare ourselves as much as possible, and we'll try to be the ones who finally break their crazy streak."[21] "Everything is possible, everything starts at zero-zero", said Erlich. "Obviously it will be very difficult, especially playing there on clay. We do our best, we give our hearts and more than that we cannot do."[32]

Despite the absence of Spain's two best players, Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco, the home team took a 2–0 lead on the first day with straight sets wins for David Ferrer over Harel Levy and Juan Carlos Ferrero over Dudi Sela. In the doubles match, Tommy Robredo and Feliciano López beat Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich in four sets and secured overall victory for Spain. The two dead singles were split: Ferrer defeated Ram and Harel Levy beat López, to make the final score 4–1 for Spain.

2010

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Chile

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Israel was drawn to play the first round tie away to  Chile, in a reverse of the 2007 Qualifying Round match. The tie was delayed by one day because of the earthquake that hit Chile a few days earlier, and was played on March 6–8 at Coquimbo. Chile won the tie 4–1, with Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich giving Israel the only rubber in the doubles match.

Austria

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In the World Group Playoff Israel played against  Austria, beginning September 16, 2010. Israel gave away a 1:0 and a 2:1 lead, and finally lost 2:3 against the Austrian team featuring world #13 Jürgen Melzer (world #6 in doubles) [1].

2011

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Poland

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Israel got a bye in the first round of the Europe/Africa Zone Group I.

It defeated Poland in the second round tie at home in March 2011.[33][34] Dudi Sela defeated Marcin Gawron 6–1, 6–3, 6–4, and Amir Weintraub in his Davis Cup debut beat Jerzy Janowicz 4–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–7 (4–7), 6–3. Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich then beat Marcin Matkowski and Mariusz Fyrstenberg 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–1 at the Israel Tennis Center in Ramat Hasharon.[34]

Canada

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On September 16–18, 2011, Israel will play the Canada Davis Cup team at Canada Stadium in Ramat Hasharon, Israel. Canada is led by Milos Raonic (# 25 in May 2011; Canada's highest-ranked male player ever), who is joined by Vasek Pospisil (# 124 in September 2011).[35] The teams split the first two matches in two upsets, as Pospisil defeated Dudi Sela 7–6 (4), 6–7 (6), 6–1, 6–7 (2), 6–3, and Amir Weintraub beat Raonic 5–7, 7–5, 6–3, 6–1.[36]

Results

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Year Competition Stage Date Surface Location Opponent Score Result
2009 World Group 1st round 6–8 March Carpet (i) Malmö, Sweden  Sweden 3–2 Won
Quarterfinals 10–12 July Hard (i) Tel Aviv, Israel  Russia 4–1 Won
Semifinals 18–20 September Clay Murcia, Spain  Spain 1–4 Lost
2010 World Group 1st round 6–8 March Clay Coquimbo, Chile  Chile 1–4 Lost
World Group play-offs 16–19 September Hard (i) Tel Aviv, Israel  Austria 2–3 Lost
2011 Europe/Africa Zone Group I 2nd round 6–8 March Hard Ramat HaSharon, Israel  Poland 3–2 Won
World Group play-offs 16–18 September Hard Ramat HaSharon, Israel  Canada 2–3 Lost
2012 Europe/Africa Zone Group I 2nd round 6–8 April Hard Ramat HaSharon, Israel  Portugal 3–2 Won
World Group play-offs 14–16 September Hard Tokyo, Japan  Japan 3–2 Won
2013 World Group 1st round 1–3 February Hard (i) Rouen, France  France 0–5 Lost
World Group play-offs 12–15 September Clay (i) Antwerp, Belgium  Belgium 2–3 Lost
2014 Europe/Africa Zone Group I 2nd round 4–6 April Clay Portorož, Slovenia  Slovenia 3–1 Won
World Group play-offs 12–14 September Hard Sunrise, United States  Argentina 2–3 Lost
2015 Europe/Africa Zone Group I 1st round 6–8 March Hard (i) Sibiu, Romania  Romania 0–5 Lost
1st round play-offs 17–19 July Hard (i) Tel Aviv, Israel  Slovenia 3–2 Won
2016 Europe/Africa Zone Group I 1st round 4–6 March Clay (i) Budapest, Hungary  Hungary 2–3 Lost
2nd round play-offs 28–30 October Hard Ramat HaSharon, Israel  Sweden 3–1 Won
2017 Europe/Africa Zone Group I 1st round 3–5 February Clay (i) Lisbon, Portugal  Portugal 0–5 Lost
1st round play-offs 15–17 September Hard Ramat HaSharon, Israel  Ukraine 0–5 Lost
2nd round play-offs 27–29 October Hard Ramat HaSharon, Israel  Romania 5–0 Won
2018 Europe/Africa Zone Group I 1st round 2–3 February Hard (i) Centurion, South Africa  South Africa 3–2 Won
2nd round 6–7 April Clay (i) Ostrava, Czech Republic  Czech Republic 1–3 Lost
2019 Europe/Africa Zone Group I 13–14 September Hard (i) Stockholm, Sweden  Sweden 1–3 Lost
2020–21 World Group I play-offs 6–7 March 2020 Clay Antalya, Turkey  Turkey 3–1 Won
World Group I 5–6 March 2021 Hard (i) Kyiv, Ukraine  Ukraine 2–3 Lost
2022 World Group I play-offs 4–5 March Hard (i) Ashdod, Israel  South Africa 3–1 Won
World Group I 16–17 September Hard (i) Tel Aviv, Israel  Czech Republic 1–3 Lost
2023 World Group I play-offs 4–5 February Hard (i) Riga, Latvia  Latvia 3–2 Won
World Group I 16–17 September Hard (i) Tel Aviv, Israel  Japan 3–2 Won
2024 Qualifying round 3–4 February Hard (i) Třinec, Czech Republic  Czech Republic 0–4 Lost
World Group I 13–14 September Hard Larnaca, Cyprus  Ukraine 2–0

Records

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Youngest Player: Yair Wertheimer, 16 years and 170 days

Oldest Player: Jonathan Erlich, 41 years and 1 day

Most wins: Shlomo Glickstein, 44 wins (22 losses)

Most singles wins: Glickstein, 31 wins (13 losses)

Most doubles wins: Erlich, 22 wins (12 losses)

Most ties played: Erlich, 34 ties

Most matches played: Glickstein, 66 matches (44 singles, 22 doubles)

Most years played: Erlich, 17 years

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "יוני ארליך מונה לקפטן נבחרת הדייויס". Archived from the original on 2022-03-06. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  2. ^ a b "Davis Cup / Win in Sweden lifts Israel to record 8th in world rankings". Haaretz. December 24, 2006. Archived from the original on July 18, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Last, Jeremy (March 20, 2009). "The Last Word: The Davis Cup venue connundrum". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved July 17, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Griver, Simon (2007-09-20). "Russian test looms for Israel's leading ladies". The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  5. ^ Sinai, Allon (2007-09-20). "Tennis: Israel faces tough tie against Chile". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 2013-07-06. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  6. ^ Sarid, Almog (September 20, 2007). "Sela stays strong in marathon". Daviscup.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  7. ^ Sinai, Allon (2007-12-27). "The best sports moments of 2007". Archived from the original on 2012-07-08. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  8. ^ Hipsh, Rami (September 23, 2007). "Israel pushes past Chile in Davis Cup after stunning upset by Sela". Haaretz.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  9. ^ Sinai, Allon (September 23, 2007). "Tennis: Israel secures historic win". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
  10. ^ "2008 World Group draw". Daviscup.com. September 27, 2007. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  11. ^ "Israeli tennis team through to Davis Cup World Group". Haaretz. Archived from the original on October 25, 2008. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  12. ^ Last, Jeremy (September 22, 2008). "Our bright present blurs weaker future prospects". Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  13. ^ "Ecstatic Israel ready for another season at the top". daviscup.com. September 22, 2008. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  14. ^ "News Article". The Globe and Mail. March 10, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-03-16.
  15. ^ "Czechs dump French, Israelis shock Swedes". AFP. March 9, 2009. Archived from the original on 2022-07-20. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  16. ^ Wolf, Nir (March 11, 2009). "Israel's tennis victory in Malmö evokes memories of 1987 upset". Haaretz.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  17. ^ "Levy wins to give Israel shock lead". Hindustan Times. July 10, 2009. Archived from the original on July 21, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2009.
  18. ^ "Nadal left off Spain team for Davis Cup". Associated Press. 2009-06-30. Archived from the original on 2009-07-10. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  19. ^ a b Sinai, Allon (July 3, 2009). "Int'l Tennis: Ram, Erlich expect the spark to return for Davis Cup tie". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved July 3, 2009.[dead link]
  20. ^ Spungin, Simon (July 11, 2009). "Davis Cup win was a very Israeli triumph". Haaretz. Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2009.
  21. ^ a b c d "Davis Cup / 'No one counted on me being able to win'". Haaretz. Archived from the original on July 18, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  22. ^ Lewis, Ori (July 10, 2009). "Levy and Sela win to stun Russia in Tel Aviv". Reuters. Archived from the original on March 23, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
  23. ^ "Netanyahu: Davis Cup team has filled nation with pride". The Jerusalem Post. July 11, 2009. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2009.
  24. ^ a b "Israel make Davis Cup history, USA stay alive". The Malaysia Star. Thestar.com.my. July 12, 2009. Archived from the original on July 19, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  25. ^ a b Dimon, Ricky (January 1, 1991). "Singles rubbers dead as Israel finishes off Russia". Tennistalk.com. Archived from the original on 2010-02-06. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  26. ^ James, Dave (July 11, 2009). "Israel make Davis Cup history, USA stay alive". AFP. Archived from the original on December 16, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  27. ^ "Russia out, US hangs on in Davis Cup". Saudi Gazette. July 12, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-07-20. Retrieved July 12, 2009.
  28. ^ Staniforth, Mark (2009-07-15). "Israelis Up for the Cup". Sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  29. ^ Last, Jeremy (July 11, 2009). "Israel crushes Russia in tennis history". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 2012-07-09. Retrieved July 12, 2009.
  30. ^ "Israel completes Davis Cup win over Russia". Miami Herald. July 12, 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2009.[dead link]
  31. ^ "Sela vs. Nadal: Israel to face Spain in Davis Cup semifinals". Haaretz.com. July 12, 2009. Archived from the original on July 15, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  32. ^ Mitnick, Joshua (July 15, 2009). "Love Set!". The Jewish Week. Archived from the original on July 19, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  33. ^ "Tie details – 2011 – Israel v Poland". Davis Cup. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  34. ^ a b "Davis Cup / Israel through to world playoffs after And Yoni put away Poles at home". Haaretz. March 6, 2011. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  35. ^ Israeli, Raphael. "Israel to face Canada for spot in World Group". Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  36. ^ "Raonic drops Davis Cup match, Canada splits day with Israel". Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
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