Israel reaches first Davis Cup semifinal

Israel has reached its first Davis Cup semifinal by taking an unbelievable 3-0 lead over Russia.

Australian Open doubles champions Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich defeated Marat Safin and Igor Kunitsyn 6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 4-6, 6-4 to decide the best-of-five series.

“This is something I will cherish for all of my life,” said Erlich, who recently came back from a 10-month injury layoff.

A day earlier, Israel had taken a surprising 2-0 lead after Harvel Levy beat Igor Andreev and Dudi Sela rallied to defeat Mikhail Youzhny in the singles matches.

Russia has won the Davis Cup twice—in 2002 and 2007—and made it to the semifinals in each of the past five years.

Israel had reached the quarterfinals once before, losing to India in New Delhi in 1987.

Now Israel will take on either Germany at home or Spain away in September.

(Via AP; Images by Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images)

It's better safe than sorry

Israeli tennis player Andy Ram said Swedish authorities made a “stupid decision” when they barred fans from the Davis Cup series between the two countries.

Well, Ram, take a look at what had happened to the Sri Lankan cricket team yesterday, and you might want to think twice.

Eight people were killed and seven other wounded in the attack when unidentified gunmen firing at the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, the capital city of Punjab.



In the latest updates, New Zealand Cricket has called off their Pakistan tour scheduled in December.

Now back to tennis, I understand how frustrated Ram, his fellow teammates and the Swedish team were to play the first-round series in Malmo in an empty stadium.

Malmo city officials had to make the hardest decision by keeping the fans away as they couldn’t guarantee security at the 4,000-seat Baltic Hall.

Anti-Israel protests are already expected in Malmo, and about 1,000 police have been called to keep protesters from the arena.

After Sweden, other countries who will be playing Israel could follow suit.

“I think it was a wrong decision. I think it maybe can open the door for other countries to make a stupid decision like this one,” Ram said.

“I think it’s going to be very bad to play without a crowd.”

Harel Levy, another member of Israel’s four-man team, said it was wrong to mix sports and politics.

“We are here to play tennis,” Levy said.

“We are not here to talk about politics or to talk about terror.”

Dudi Sela and Noam Okun are also on the Israeli team.

Sweden are represented by Robert Lindstedt, Simon Aspelin, Bjorn Rehnquist and Daniel Berta. Veteran Thomas Johansson has been practicing with the Swedish team.

“We’re here since Sunday and we saw him (Johansson) play every day, practicing very hard, so he’s going to play,” Sela predicted.

Johansson, the 2002 Australian Open champion, was disappointed his country won’t get the benefit of a cheering crowd.

“When you play Davis Cup on home turf you want a full house, and we think it’s too bad that there won’t be,” he said.

(Via AP; Images by Drago Prvulovic/AFP/Getty Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Mahesh Bupathi not a big fan of receptions; Mike Bryan doesn't need to pick up the bills

"Hopefully not too big. I'm not a big fan of receptions. I'd like to sneak out the back door at the airport tomorrow."
~ Mahesh Bhupathi on the reception he expects back in India after winning the country's first Grand Slam mixed doubles title with Sania Mirza.

Mirza and Bhupathi beat Nathalie Dechy of France and Andy Ram of Israel 6-3, 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena.

"All I know is Serena usually picks up the bill."
~ Mike Bryan makes plan for an all-American celebration in Melbourne.

American twins Bob and Mike Bryan won their seventh Grand Slam title with a 2-6, 7-5, 6-0 win over Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles in the Australian Open doubles final.

The brothers, who regained their No. 1 ranking by reaching the final, were the second set of American siblings to win Grand Slam titles after Venus and Serena Williams won the women's doubles.

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Winners during Diwali break

First of all, wishing all Indian friends Happy Diwali.

Kinda miss a lot after taking a few days break from the blogosphere. However I'm glad I did spend the weekend holiday with bro and sis and the new addition to our family, Pepper who is just 7-week old.


So here are the weekend winners in brief:

Roger Federer conquers Basel

Roger Federer won his hometown tournament for the third straight year on Sunday, beating second-seeded David Nalbandian of Argentina 6-3, 6-4 in the Swiss Indoors final.

“Things are back into a groove the way I like it. I’m happy with the way I’m playing,” Federer said.

“It feels great to win at home. Once you had it you want more of it and you want to do it over and over again.”

In the doubles title, Mark Knowles became the 21st player in ATP history (since 1973) to capture 50 career doubles titles after partnering Indian Mahesh Bhupathi to the Davidoff Swiss Indoors champion Sunday with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Germans Christopher Kas and Philipp Kohlschreiber.

The final lasted 61 minutes.

“I’m elated,” said Knowles.

“It’s a big number and I’d be a liar if I said I hadn’t been thinking about it, as I’ve lost in a couple of finals lately. I’m really happy to win my 50th title and get past the milestone."

Andy Murray retains St. Petersburg Open title

Top-seeded Andy Murray won the St. Petersburg Open for the second straight year by beating qualifier Andrey Golubev 6-1, 6-1.

“I played well today, I really enjoyed myself this week,” Murray said.

“At the start of both sets it was quite close, but once I got ahead I started to feel much more comfortable. In terms of the score it was easy, but it wasn’t the easiest match I’ve played on the tour.”

In the doubles title, American Travis Parrott and Filip Polasek of the Slovak Republic earned a hard-fought 3-6, 7-6(4) 10-8 win over first-time pairing Indian Rohan Bopanna and Max Mirnyi of Belarus at the St. Petersburg Open.

“We are really happy to have won our first ATP title as a team. We started playing together in February. It is fun to have worked our way up from the Challenger circuit and get the chance to win an ATP title," said Parrott.

Robin Soderling wins at Lyon

Seventh-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden beat Julien Benneteau 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1 to claim his third career title and first since 2005.

Soderling is set to break into the top 20 for the first time on Monday at either No. 18 or 19.

“As a player you always have the goal of reaching the top 100. Once you get there, you want to get to the top 50,” he said.

“Reaching the top 20 feels great. It has been my goal for two or three years.”

Second seeds Michael Llodra of France and Israeli Andy Ram, playing together for the first time this week, captured the Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon title on Sunday after beating Australian Stephen Huss and Ross Hutchins of Great Britain 6-3, 5-7, 10-8 in 80 minutes.

“I'm very happy to win this title together with Andy,” said Llodra.

“Winning with him in Lyon makes it even more special since this place means a lot to me. I usually play with French partners, most of the time with Arnaud Clement and I'm happy that I won this title together with my friend Andy."

Elena Dementieva takes 3rd title of year in Luxembourg

Elena Dementieva won her third title of the year on Sunday, outlasting Caroline Wozniacki 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the Fortis Championships.

"I feel like I just won a Grand Slam," Dementieva said.

"I think it was the most difficult final I've ever played. Caroline was playing so well - she has such a good defensive game, but was also hitting really good drop shots and passing shots. I had to stay positive and aggressive and I'm so happy I was able to win today."

In the doubles titile, Sorana Cristea and Marina Erakovic took the title with defeat of no. 3 seeds Vera Dushevina and Mariya Koryttseva in a match tie-break 2-6, 6-3, 10-8.

"We clicked," said Erakovic after the 4th seeds' Tier III win.

"Sorana plays very well off the baseline, and has a great serve, and I can do a lot of things at the net. I think that combination helped us this week."

Ana Ivanovic ends title drought at Linz

Top-seeded Ana Ivanovic routed No. 2-seeded Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-1 in the final of the Generali Ladies to win her first title since the French Open.

"Every final is a new experience and winning a title is always special," Ivanovic said.

"Especially after coming back from an injury and putting in a lot of hard work, it's great to see the results. It's a very good feeling to win another title. I played better and better in every match and really enjoyed my week in Linz."

In the doubles final, second seeds Katarina Srebotnik and Ai Sugiyama upset top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber 6-4, 7-5, to capture the Tier II Generali Ladies Linz title.

(Via AP, ATP website, WTA website)

Qualifier Philipp Petzschner clinches maiden ATP crown; Max Mirnyi & Andy Ram deny Petzschner his double titles

Philipp Petzschner upset Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday in the Bank Austria Tennis Trophy final for his first ATP Tour title.

The 125th-ranked German, who had never been beyond the quarterfinals of an ATP event before, had to play two qualifying rounds to reach the main draw and became only the third qualifier this season to win an ATP tournament.

“This is unbelievable, I can’t describe my feelings now,” Petzschner said. “I will enter the top 100, which makes a dream come true.”

The 24-year-old Petzschner played his opening qualifying match less than three hours after arriving on a flight from Tokyo.

He went on to beat top-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka, former No. 1 Carlos Moya and 2004 champion Feliciano Lopez on his way to the title.

“This has been an incredible week for me, everything went perfect,” Petzschner said.

The 8th-seeded Monfils has lost five of his six career finals.

“I am disappointed but I had a good week anyway,” said the 28th-ranked Frenchman, who had beaten Petzschner in straight sets in their only previous match last month.

“Philipp was the better player today. He just was more aggressive so well done to him.”

Monfils will enter the ATP top 20 for his highest ranking ever.

“This win gives me a lot of confidence, I now see what I have been working for all year,” Petzschner said.

“My goal next season will be to get into the top 50.”

However Petzschner and Alexander Peya of Austria lost 6-1, 7-5 to Max Mirnyi of Belarus and Andy Ram of Israel in the doubles final. Mirnyi secured his 35th career trophy, while Ram won his 14th title.

The pair was competing together for the first time this week.

“It’s easy to play with Max. He told me he has won a number of tournaments multiple times with different partners. It’s easy when you pick up one of the best doubles players," said Ram.

"It’s one of my best experiences I have ever had and I certainly learned a lot from one of the best doubles players ever this week. Perhaps we’ll play together again when Jonathan [Erlich] stops playing!”

(Images via Bank Austria Tennis Throphy official website)

Max Mirnyi receives an International Law degree

Congratulation! Max Mirnyi has completed his degree at Belarus State University, majoring in International Law with his diploma work on the international protection of children's rights.

The former No. 1 doubles player sacrificed some weeks on the ATP circuit over the summer to complete the degree, which he has been working towards for the past five years.

The 31-year-old Minsk native said, “By being a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador to Belarus and taking part in the various national and international children's programs over the years in the framework of the ATP, I witnessed the necessity to continue to act to provide children around the world with extra care and attention to ensure a better and safer future for humanity."

“I want to thank my family for supporting me during the long five years of my study and also a wonderful crew of BSU professors from whom I had pleasure gathering required knowledge.”

Mirnyi is back on court playing with Andy Ram at the Bank Austria-Tennis Trophy in Vienna. Last month, Mirnyi splitted with doubles partner Jamie Murray, who is now paired up with Ross Hutchins.

(Via ATP website, Images via maxmirnyi.com)

Celebrating gay marriage?

Errr, not quite actually. For your information, these are not Californian men celebrating the legalisation of gay marriage. They are tennis players having fun at the ATP Players' Night in Hamburg, Germany.

Israeli doubles stars Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram joke at the ATP Players' Night.

Tournament Director Carl-Uwe Steeb and Thomas Muster attend the ATP Players Night in the Copper House in Hamburg, Germany.

And speaking about the controversial legalised gay marriage by the top court in California, Ellen DeGeneres announced during a taping of The Ellen DeGeneres Show that she and girlfriend Portia de Rossi plan to swap vows.



(Images from Getty Images)