They did it! Ram and Erlich embrace after defeating Russians
Photo: Eli Elgarat
Israel defeats Russia, makes tennis history
Israel reaches Davis Cup semi-final for first time after trouncing powerful Russians
Israel makes tennis history: Israel's national tennis team completed a sensational 3:0 win over Russia Saturday to advance to the Davis Cup's semi-final.
For the first time in its history, Israel will be ranked among the top four teams in the world.
Almost 10,000 cheering spectators in Tel Aviv watched duo Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich defeat the Russians 3:2 in a nail-biting doubles match to clinch the win. The players later said the crowd played an instrumental role in the victory.
The Israeli win marks one of the greatest international tennis upsets in recent years. Russia, who won the Davis Cup twice in the past decades, went into the weekend as the clear favorite to win the contest.
On Friday, Harel Levy and Dudi Sela stunned spectators with two singles wins for an unexpected 2:0 lead. On Saturday, Israel's leading tennis duo overcame the Russian 6:3, 6:4, 6;7, 4:6, 6:4.
Ram and Erlich got off to an excellent start, winning the first two sets. In the third set, the Israeli duo dropped two match points as the Russian staged a comeback, eventually tying the score at 2:2. In the close fifth and deciding set, the Israelis were able to break the serve of their opponents, winning the set 6:4 and sending the raucous crowd into seventh heaven.
Israel will be facing either Spain or Germany in the semi-final series.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Israel Tennis Association Head Moshe Haviv Saturday and congratulated him on the Israeli team's historic win over Russia. "You've made us all very proud," the PM said.
