Published Articles

Original Article Published On The Jerusalem Post

“I didn’t think about how I was making history as the first Israeli athlete to play in Dubai.”

When Israeli tennis legend Andy Ram learned in August that Israelis will soon be able to fly directly to the United Arab Emirates, he was shocked and pleased and had a déjà-vu moment.

Ram’s illustrious doubles career, mostly with fellow Israel tennis player Jonathan “Yoni” Ehrlich, included three Grand Slam championships, multiple opportunities to represent Israel at the Olympics and the Davis Cup, and some exciting and harrowing behind-the-scenes dealings with the then-unfriendly Arab nation. The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP, the leading international men’s tennis organization) once paid Ram to not play tennis in Dubai, then one year later reversed course and exerted pressure to grant permission for Ram to play there.

Ram, who retired from professional tennis six years ago, reflected on his tennis career, current projects and Dubai experiences during a recent Zoom “Lunch and Learn” session for 70 people with the Israel Tennis and Education Center (ITEC).

Ram’s tennis career began when he wasn’t allowed to play soccer. Ram’s Israeli father was injured and endured three surgeries during his years playing professional soccer for Beitar Jerusalem. His father then went to Uruguay on shlichut (as an emissary), where he met Andy’s mother.

“Because of his soccer injuries, he didn’t allow me to play soccer.”

The Ram family moved back to Israel when Ram was five. At that young age, he started playing tennis at the Israel Tennis Centers in Jerusalem and was hooked immediately.


“I was jealous of the kids who were playing tennis at (the main center in) Ramat Hasharon.” Ram moved to Ramat Hasharon and to the Wingate Institute at age 14 for more intensive training.

Ram turned pro in 1996 at the age of 16 and began practicing regularly with future doubles partner Yoni Erlich. The two actually first met when Ram was 10.

“I was three years younger. I had a dream to play with Yoni and I asked him to play together in the juniors.” The two did not compete in a Grand Slam tournament until 2001, when they played doubles at Wimbledon.

Ram has spent most of his career playing both men’s doubles and mixed doubles. In 2003, Ram and Erlich entered the prestigious Wimbledon tournament through the qualifiers and reached the semifinals. That same year, Ram and Anastasia Rodionova of Russia reached the mixed doubles finals, losing to Martina Navratilova and Leander Paes.

RAM CONTINUED to experience success in both men’s doubles and mixed doubles throughout the 2000s. In 2003, Ram and Erlich won both the Thailand Open and a tournament in Lyon, France. Ram won the mixed doubles title with Vera Zvonareva at the 2006 Wimbledon Championships. He then won the mixed doubles title at the 2007 French Open with Nathalie Dechy, and the men’s doubles title at the 2008 Australian Open with Erlich.

Following Ram and Erlich’s Australian Open victory at the end of January 2008, the pair wanted to play in March’s Barclays Dubai Tennis Championship.

“There were lots of points and big money to be won there,” Ram tells the people on the ITEC webinar. “Under sports law, they must let all people play in this tournament, so we applied for a visa and we got tickets. The Dubai government didn’t let us go.” Ram then shared the shocking story of how the ATP “didn’t let us go. The ATP convinced us – after we got our tickets – not to go. They gave us $10,000, paid for our canceled tickets and suggested we play in the February Delray Beach International Tennis Championships. We said okay!”

Ram and the ATP took a very different approach in 2009 when the idea of playing in Dubai resurfaced. “Yoni was injured, and I needed to earn and defend points. I told the ATP with two months’ notice that I have the right to go.”

In February of the same year, Israeli tennis player Shahar Pe’er was denied a visa by the UAE for the Dubai Tennis Championship. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), the main organizing body of women’s professional tennis, fined Dubai Tennis Championships organizers a record $300,000. US tennis star Andy Roddick said at the time that he wouldn’t defend the title he won there in 2008.

According to Ram, “The ATP said, ‘If there is no visa for Andy Ram, we will cancel the tournament.’ Dubai said they would give me a visa.”

This is where Ram’s circuitous, wild Dubai adventure begins.

“There were no flights. And the Mossad called. I don’t know how they knew I was planning to go! They are the Mossad. They said, ‘We know you want to go. You can’t!’”

Ram and the Zoom audience laughed.

“I flew to Paris. I was at the counter three hours before the flight. The lady said, ‘You can’t go.’ Seconds before the flight was to take off, they let me on the flight. I thought they [would all want] to kill me – so I started to speak Spanish! When we landed, I became like the prime minister. Some 15 people took me off the flight and took my bags. We stayed at a bulletproof hotel. We were the only ones there; all of the other players stayed in a different hotel. They blocked off the whole floor and I had 24/7 bodyguards, and I had to use the name Mr. Smith. Later, I realized my hotel was only two minutes from the tennis center; they had driven me around and around for two hours to get there!

“And when we went to a restaurant with 60 people, 50 people left with me! They were all part of our entourage. At my matches, there was one court just for me. Only 100 people were allowed to watch, and no phones. The name ‘Ram’ appeared but no country.”

The Zoom audience was mesmerized, clearly hearing this story for the first time.

“When I look back, this was the most important thing I have done in my career. It was a statement about what I was fighting for!”

RAM’S PERSEVERANCE in 2008 and 2009 seems to have paid off. Israeli tennis players and other athletes will presumably have no trouble traveling to Dubai from now on. In the recent deal, Israel and the UAE agreed to exchange ambassadors, enhance commercial ties here, enable medical tourism with Sheba Medical Center, create security relationships and much more. They will also allow direct flights between the two countries – something Ram would have enjoyed. The UAE will become only the third Arab country to have diplomatic relations with Israel.

Ram is still making sense of the news and its implications.

“When I was playing tennis, I didn’t think about it. I didn’t think about how I was making history as the first Israeli athlete to play in Dubai. Now, to see the skies open to Dubai is unbelievable. I never thought it would happen!”

As the always-gregarious Ram looks back on his 30-year career, he reports nostalgically, “What I got from tennis, I can’t describe in words. Everything I have in life is through the Israel Tennis Centers. I met my wife through tennis at age 10, had my first kiss at age 16, and now have three kids! What I received from tennis, you can’t get from other sports.”

Ram continues to be loved and respected throughout Israel and the tennis world. Kevin Green, ITEC international chair, reports, “We are so proud of Andy and what he has accomplished in his career; from representing Israel in his Davis Cup victories, to winning major titles at Wimbledon, the French Open and the Australian Open. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Andy’s work ethic, humility and warmth make him an inspiration to all of us. He sets a shining example that when you have a dream, work hard and focus, anything is possible. He is an international treasure and a celebrated global ITEC ambassador.”

Erez Vider, global CEO of ITEC, adds, “Andy Ram is a legend for tennis in Israel and for the ITEC’s children since he won three Grand Slams in tennis. He is a living example that everything is possible. Dreams can come true if one has the will and will get a fair chance. Anyone can become a winner in tennis and in life through our programs.”

Despite his status as a tennis legend, Ram is much like any Israeli parent these days – dealing with the uncertainly of school starting up and finding ways to keep his children occupied in the age of COVID-19. Andy, wife Shiri, and children ages 11, 9 and 5 live in north Tel Aviv. Ram is enjoying the extra time he gets to spend with his family.

“We make the best out if out – the same as it was when I was on the court – trying to look on the good side of things.”

DESPITE PLANNING to not work in tennis after his retirement, Ram has found his way back. In 2015, Ram became CEO of Pulse Play, a wearable tennis technology app startup. (He reports he closed the company about one year ago.) And he started a foundation within the Israel Tennis Centers in memory of his father “to help kids with their dreams of becoming pros.”
Ram has become passionate about helping young Israelis reach the top levels in professional tennis. And he has the reputation, personality and finesse to bring together the Israel Tennis Centers, the Israel Tennis Association and other key players to achieve this goal.

“I really believe that in a few more years, we will see the next Dudi (Sela) and Shahar (Pe’er). This is the reason I started it.” He points to Mika Buchnik, 13, and Israeli Bedouin Karin al-Touri, 14, as two female players he sees on track to achieve tennis greatness.

In addition to his efforts to produce the next Israeli Roger Federer or Serena Williams, he teaches classes at Ono Academic College, his alma mater, and gives motivational speeches and presents workshops for Israeli companies.

While Ram played his last US Open in 2013, he still stays abreast of news of the Grand Slam event, which took place August 31 to September 13 in New York – with no fans present.

“It is such an operation. It is one of the biggest sports events in the world, next to the Olympics. It is two weeks and big money. It will be interesting to see how they get back and manage to pull it off; the rest of the sports world will follow. I am really looking forward!”

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Original Article Published On The Jerusalem Post

This year’s US Open is unquestionably different – without Israelis, fans or in-person coverage

Back in March, September’s US Open tennis event seemed like a pipe dream. Despite no-shows like Rafael Nadal, a recuperating Roger Federer, and such top women’s players as women’s No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, former French Open and reigning Wimbledon champion Simona Halep, No. 5 Elina Svitotolina and current US Open champ Bianca Andreescu, the tournament is taking place as planned – and is entering round 4 with such top players as Novak Djokavic and Serena Williams still alive.

The United States Tennis Association has taken every precaution imaginable to work toward a safe tournament – including no fans, no media, and frequent COVID-19 tests for all players, who are essentially required to live in a bubble. At a press conference before the tournament, Michael Dowse, CEO and executive director of the USTA; Stacey Allaster, USTA chief executive of professional tennis, US Open tournament director; and Dr. Bernard Camins, medical director for infection prevention for the Mt. Sinai Health Systems, member of the USTA Medical Advisory Group, detailed the multi-tiered system in place for players and guests, tournament officials, broadcasters and event staff. The system was set up to limit interactions.

“We have worked through dozens of scenarios so we can anticipate situations that could arise during the tournaments, planned for them accordingly, and are ready and able to adapt,” said Dr. Camins. “We have been in close consultation with the USTA, the WTA, ATP and other tennis officials so that we could create the current version of our testing and mitigation strategy.”

Even with such precautions in place, it was clear from the outset that the system would be imperfect. As the tournament got underway last Monday, seven players were placed in a “bubble within the bubble” because they were in contact with Benoit Paire, a French player who tested positive and was forced to drop out of the tournament. This past Saturday, US Open Public Relations issued a statement on the women’s doubles team of Kristina Mladenovic and Timea Babos, forced to withdraw before their second-round match.

No Israelis qualified for this year’s US Open. In past years, such Israeli players as Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich, Dudi Sela, Shahar Peer, Julia Glushko and juniors like Yshai Oliel generated a great deal of excitement among loyal Jewish and Israeli fans.

Andy Ram, whose illustrious career included three Grand Slam wins and multiple appearances on behalf of Israel at both the Davis Cup and Olympics, is keeping an eye on the US Open – even six years after retiring from professional tennis. In a recent interview with The Jerusalem Post, Ram noted that he is especially interested in seeing how the US Open pulls off this event in the age of coronavirus.

“It is such an operation. It is one of the biggest sports events in the world, next to the Olympics,” noted Ram. “It is two weeks and big money. It will be interesting to see how they get back and manage to pull it off and bring all of the players. If they can find a solution, maybe the rest of the sports world will follow. I am really looking forward!”

Julia Glushko, Israel’s recently retired tennis star, played in eight US Opens between 2011 and 2019. At last year’s US Open, she lost 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the qualifiers to Katarina Zavatska. Glushko, 29, admits to having some FOMO – fear of missing out – by not being at this year’s US Open.

“It’s actually a bit weird not being in NYC at this time of the year,” she told the Post. “Even though everything has stopped and I haven’t been feeling like I’m missing out on much, I do feel a bit left out seeing everyone posting about the bubble.”

Players are required to live at one of two Long Island hotels, and they are not permitted to venture out of the bubble into Manhattan. Masks are required while on the grounds of the US Open – even during massage and courtside physio sessions. And dining is essentially alone or socially distanced.

The US Open has been working hard to provide a meaningful player experience. And the players are appreciative.

A very large entertainment space usually used by Mercedes-Benz to host important clients, now houses treadmills and exercise bicycles in an open-air gym-type space. The South Plaza of Arthur Ashe Stadium is a make-shift entertainment center used to entice the athletes to stay outdoors as much as possible. It features cornhole sets, a temporary mini-golf course, a human-size chess board, billiards, white Adirondack chairs, umbrellas and beach balls. Hanging out in the locker room for long periods of time is not an option this year.

Organizers have converted 67 of the 80 suites inside of Arthur Ashe stadium. They feature furniture which can easily be cleaned, stocked refrigerators, Lavazza espresso machines and a physio table to each suite. The top 32 male and female are given luxury suites.

Kim Clijsters, a three-time champion in the main draw of the US Open, was lucky enough to receive one of the three unclaimed suites. The 37-year-old mother of three reported, “The suite has been great. Just the convenience for me, I wasn’t seeded, but to receive a suite was obviously a big bonus. We felt very thankful to be up there and to watch the tennis the last couple of days.”

Players are generally pleased to be here, though quite aware of the obvious contrast to past years.

Andy Murray, who came back from two sets down to win a thrilling first-round match, in his first time at the US Open since 2018, reported: “I’m pumped. It’s obviously slightly strange circumstances this year with no fans and stuff here. That’s one of the things I enjoy about competing.”

Murray does, however, appreciate how easy it is to walk the grounds without being stopped by fans.

“When you’re walking to and from practice, you have to get somewhere for a certain time, it’s nice. You know that there’s no one around, that you’re not going to get stopped. Yeah, it’s very quiet and very relaxed.”

But he conceded that “on the whole, I’d way rather this place was filled with people that are excited to come and watch tennis. Yeah, I miss that.”

Players continue to express their appreciation to the US Open at both media sessions and on social media. On Twitter, Sloane Stephens wrote: “Thank you to the @usopen for keeping us safe in our bubble for the next few weeks. Testing, social distancing, hand sanitizing, masks, and all of that goodness plus some tennis!!”

Kirsten Flipkens tweeted: “Impressed by the organization of the @usta Thumbs up! Have really done a good job to provide a safe environment for players and their teams.”

At the hotels, players can enjoy an outdoor lounge and dining area which have been set up on the hotel parking lot, and they can watch both tennis matches and musicians on a live screen – while not using the golf simulator, fitness center and arcade.

While the players are watching matches from the hotel, from the grounds of the US Open, or from luxury suites, the 1,300 people who usually cover the US Open for newspapers, magazines and networks around the world, are doing so from the comforts of their homes – from Auckland, London, Shanghai, Buenos Aires and New York. They are watching the event on their own television sets, and closely watching their hundred plus WhatsApp messages about players coming to the media center for interviews. We can ask questions in the chat, or on screen. Photos are made available from the few in-house tournament photographers.

While many members of the media spend most of their time each year inside the media center, watching monitors and writing, there is nothing like the excitement of wandering the grounds of the US Open, watching matches courtside, and interviewing players in person. This reporter, who has been covering the US Open courtside and from the media center for the past 15 years, shares Julia Glushko’s FOMO.

This year, there is no opportunity for chance or arranged meetings with Stan Smith, Jimmy Connors, or Chris Evert. There will be no one-on-ones after matches – win or lose – with Shahar, Julia or Dudi. There will be no spotting up-and-coming Israeli juniors. And of course, there is no seeing the true greats – Roger, Rafa or Serena – live, in action.

Despite this minor disappointment, we tip our tennis hats to the US Open for pulling of this absolutely unprecedented event. Praying to be back in Queens a year from now for next year’s US Open!

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Original Article Published On The Jerusalem Post

All services will be broadcast for free, live from New York’s Brooklyn Bowl, without an audience, via Fans.com.

NEW YORK – The coronavirus pandemic isn’t stopping The Brooklyn Bowl, the funky and famous bowling alley and music venue in Williamsburg, New York, from marking the High Holy Days, as it has done for the last nine years.This year’s “Bowl Hashana” will be online, however, as the venue’s owner, Peter Shapiro and the team at “Just Jewish” have gotten creative and found what they call “a suite of musically and spiritually driven High Holiday services” which also include Yom Kippur this year.

Four events – (all listed US East Coast, Brooklyn time) on the first night and first day of Rosh Hashanah (September 18 at 7:30 p.m. and September 19 at 10 a.m.), Kol Nidre (September 27 at 7 p.m.) and Yom Kippur day (September 28 at 10 a.m.) will be led by Rabbi Daniel Brenner and musical director and Antibalas co-founder, Jordan McClean. Jeremiah Lockwood, who was a member of Balkan Beat Box, will serve as musical and spiritual supervisor remotely.

“As a rabbi, I hope to draw on the spiritual power of the liturgy and ritual of the high holidays to speak directly to the anguish, soul-searching and desire for redemption that the last five months has brought upon us,” said Brenner. “Broadcasting the music and ritual of the Yamim Noraim [Days of Awe] from the Brooklyn Bowl, a place that hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers associate with joy and the celebration of America’s musical diversity, will not only connect new audiences to ancient prayers, but will help comfort and inspire us at a time when we all could use some uplift.”Lockwood added, “I am grateful to have the chance to reunite this community at this deeply meaningful time of year. This format for presenting music will be unique in my experience as an artist and spiritual seeker, and I am very excited to see how the observers receive it!”
All services will be broadcast for free, live from New York’s Brooklyn Bowl, without an audience, via Fans.com.

Shapiro, publisher of Relix Magazine and a concert promoter, best known as the promoter for Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead,” is pleased Bowl Hashanah, and now Yom Kippur services, will continue to be offered at the Brooklyn Bowl, even during these unusual times.

“The Jewish Holidays are always a powerful time of the year, where renewal and hope and forgiveness help center us as we enter a new season and a new year. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur will be even more meaningful this year, given the significant challenges that we are facing on a daily basis. Personally, I can’t wait to hear the sound of the shofar. I am really hoping for a very strong blow at the Bowl, one that really clears out the pipes, of both the Internet and our souls!”

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Original Post Published On The Jerusalem Post

After two straight US Open quarterfinals, Jewish-Argentine knocked out early • Djokovic cruises • Gauff ousted

Cameron Norrie of Great Britain battled back from two sets down and two match points to stun the US Open’s Argentine No. 9 seed, Diego Schwartzman 3-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 in a four-hour first-round match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Monday night.
Schwartzman, the No. 13 in the world, experienced cramps on several occasions and took a fall up 3-2 in the fifth set that required treatment on his left hand by the trainer. The gregarious, proudly Jewish 28-year-old is a three-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist. He reached the US Open quarterfinals in both 2017 and 2019, but couldn’t pull out the match against Norrie.

“I had a very bad day,” said Schwartzman after the match. “I was far from playing at the level that I showed many times here at the US Open. I took advantage of the early chances, but I was giving a lot physically and I started to get tired and cramped up a couple of times. In a normal year, when I am playing a lot, I do well, but it is much harder going a long time without competing. It was a very bad tournament for me and all I can do is try to improve for what is coming.”No. 76 Norrie spoke to the British media after the match.“I just had a phenomenal attitude and stayed patient with myself,” said Norrie. “I think my attitude won it for me today and my legs got me through it.”  Norrie had eleven aces to one for Schwarzman. The match broke a US Open record with 58 break points.Norrie advances to play Argentinian Federico Coria in the second round.  Players in the main draw earn $61,000 for appearing in the first round.  Male and female tournament winners earn $3 million.  Norrie has yet to win any titles.  He is 4-10 in Grand Slam matches and has reached the second round four times.

Schwartzman made news during last week’s ATP 2020 Western & Southern Open Masters 1000, which was also played on the grounds of the US Open.  He was upset when Argentine tennis players Guido Pella and Hugo Dellien were quarantined after their fitness trainer tested positive for COVID-19.

“They lied to our faces,” Schwarzman said angrily, “They said that there would be no retaliation for anyone who tested positive.”Relatedly, a number of competitors at the US Open expressed their frustration on Monday after they were moved into a so-called “bubble within a bubble” as they had been in contact with Frenchman Benoit Paire, who tested positive for coronavirus.

Tournament organizers quietly removed Paire from the draw on Sunday, with the Frenchman later confirming on social media that he had tested positive.French players Adrian Mannarino, Kristina Mladenovic and Edouard Roger-Vasselin were subsequently placed under an “enhanced protocol plan” for “players who might have been potentially exposed” to the virus, allowing them to continue competing in the tournament instead of withdrawing.

In other first-round action, Novak Djokovic needed less than two hours to continue his unbeaten season.The top-seeded Serbian routed Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 in 1 hour, 58 minutes.The win was Djokovic’s 24th in as many matches this year. He won the Australian Open and three tournaments this year, including the Western & Southern Open in New York last week.

Djokovic saved six of the seven break points he faced against Dzumhur while converting six of his 18 break opportunities.A heavy favorite for the title with Spain’s Rafael Nadal and Switzerland’s Roger Federer absent, Djokovic will next face Kyle Edmund. The British player got past Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik 2-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-0.In other matches, fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece demolished Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 in 98 minutes.

Maxime Cressy will get the next shot at Tsitsipas, as the American wild-card entrant produced his first victory in a Grand Slam event.Cressy, a 23-year-old UCLA product, beat Slovakia’s Jozef Kovalik 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.Fifth-seeded Alexander Zverev needed four sets to get past South Africa’s Kevin Anderson 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.Seventh-seeded David Goffin of Belgium eliminated the United States’ Reilly Opelka 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.Other seeded winners Monday included Israel-born No. 12 Denis Shapovalov of Canada, No. 19 Taylor Fritz of the United States, No. 20 Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain, No. 24 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, No. 26 Filip Krajinovic of Serbia, No. 27 Borna Coric of Croatia and No. 32 Adrian Mannarino of France.

In an all-United States matchup, Steve Johnson outlasted 16th-seeded John Isner 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (3). Isner fell despite an ace edge of 52-22.On the women’s side, Coco Gauff failed to make it past the first round as 31st-seeded Anastasija Sevastova defeated the 16-year-old sensation 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Gauff had a memorable run 12 months ago at age 15 when she recorded two wins at the US Open before losing to top-seeded Naomi Osaka in the third round.But the magic wasn’t there against the 30-year-old Sevastova, who was a US Open semifinalist in 2018 and reached the quarterfinals in both 2016 and 2017.Gauff committed 13 double faults and 41 unforced errors against 27 winners in the match at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

“I could’ve played better today, but I’m just going to get back to work and get ready for the French Open,” Gauff said of the event that begins Sepember. 21.Also, top-seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic routed Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine 6-4, 6-0.Fourth-seeded Naomi Osaka, two days after withdrawing from the Western & Southern Open final due to a hamstring injury, emerged with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 win over another Japanese player, Misaki Doi.

Sixth-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova also was sharp with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu.American Alison Riske, seeded 13th, got past Germany’s Tatjana Maria 6-3, 6-2, No. 17 Angelique Kerber of Germany notched a 6-4, 6-4 win over Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic and No. 30 Kristina Mladenovic of France recorded a 7-5, 6-2 win over Hailey Baptiste.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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