Sport

Original Article Published On The Jerusalem Post

Nadal advanced to Friday’s semifinals, his eighth US Open final four.

Diego Schwartzman’s storied US Open run came to an end in the early hours of Thursday morning in three hard-fought sets against Rafael Nadal, with a final result of 6-4, 7-5, 6-2

The Spaniard had beaten Schwartzman all seven times they’ve played, including a straight-set win in the third round of the 2015 US Open. Schwartzman had won only two sets in the previous 17 against Nadal. The 27-year-old Argentine Jew, who beat Alexander Zverev to advance to the quarterfinals, was the only player to win a set off Nadal at the 2018 French Open, when Nadal went on to win his 11th Rolland Garros title.

While Nadal took Thursday’s match in straight sets, the match was not easy for the second seed. In the first two sets, Nadal raced to double-break leads. However, a number of misfires by the 33-year-old Spaniard allowed Schwartzman to get back into each set.

The momentum appeared to shift for Schwartzman in the seventh game of the second set. Down 5-1, Schwartzman broke Nadal twice to tie the score at five apiece. Prior to the match, Nadal’s serve had only been broken twice at Flushing medals; Schwartzman broke Nadal four times.

Following a difficult passing winner, the crowd stood and cheered, calling out Schwartzman’s name.  Schwartzman repeatedly pumped his fists toward the packed, Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd and, inspired by the fans’ enthusiasm, continued to fight.

“It crazy,” said Schwartzman. “It’s nice when it’s happening on court, the big points and when you win the big points. I took a lot of confidence after that point.”

Nadal held serve to go up 6-5 as the match clock topped two hours. Schwartzman served and saved three match points before going down 7-5.

The players stayed on serve in the third set before Nadal broke Schwartzman in game six to go up 4-2. While the match appeared to be winding down, Nadal showed signs of wear and tear, receiving treatment from the trainer on his left forearm.

Nadal mustered strength and came out fighting, winning nine of 10 points in games five through seven.  At 30-30 in the third set’s eighth game, Schwartzman hit long before hitting the final shot of the match into the net.

The old friends embraced at the net.  The crowd cheered the hard-working Schwartzman who stayed on court to sign autographs for late-night fans.

In the 1 a.m. media session, Schwartzman was asked to describe Nadal’s tenacity.

“He is like a lion in the middle, you know, in the jungle. He’s a fighter. He knows how to play the important moments every single time. I have played him eight times, and every important moment he played better than me!”

Nadal advanced to Friday’s semifinals, his eighth US Open final four, against 24th-seeded Italian Matteo Berrettini of Italy. The big-hitting Berrettini outlasted No. 13 Gael Monfils of France 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(5) in Wednesday’s thrilling five-setter. 

The other men’s semi features No. 5 Daniil Medvedev vs Grigor Dimitrov, while on the women’s side, Serena Williams faces Elina Svitolina and Belinda Bencic takes on Bianca Andreescu.

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Original Article Published On The Jerusalem Post

“I am from an Arab family. It’s a privilege for me to interact with my Jewish friends and build new friendships through the years,” Haifa native Rand Najjar, 15, said.

NEW YORK – Monday’s crowd of 68,059 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, was the largest to attend an opening day in US Open history. But those in attendance did not see any Israelis in action. For the first time in many years, there were no Israelis in the men’s, women’s or juniors draws for singles or doubles at the US Open.

That may change in the future if recent efforts of the newly renamed Israel Tennis & Education Centers (ITEC) are successful. But even if the ITEC never produces world class tennis players, they are already producing thousands of tolerant, inclusive citizens who will serve as important ambassadors in of Israel and around the world.

Four promising young Israel tennis players – from diverse backgrounds, home towns and tennis centers across Israel – attended the US Open opening matches to see their heroes in action and to celebrate the conclusion of participating in five tennis exhibitions in eight days in New York, Boston and Cleveland.

Haifa native Rand Najjar, 15, takes part in the High Performance Coexistence Program in Haifa which serves Jewish, Muslim and Christian players. Najjar, who has been playing tennis for 10 years and is considered one of the top players in her age group in Israel, spoke with The Jerusalem Post this week about her experience.

“I am from an Arab family. It’s a privilege for me to interact with my Jewish friends and build new friendships through the years,” she said. “We don’t feel that there are any differences between us. We are all equal. And we feel that the tennis center is such a peaceful place.”

Eden Eneli, also from Haifa and currently a student at Tel Aviv University, coaches in the High Performance program and works with Israel’s national tennis team. While he is pleased to coach players with diverse backgrounds in the city where he grew up, he stressed the much larger role of the Israel Tennis & Education Centers in the lives of the participants.

“My first goal is to educate the next generation. My second goal is to be their tennis coach.”

Nir Skolotsky, 15, who lives in Beersheba and participates in the High Performance program, has played in international tournaments.  He dreams of receiving a full scholarship to study and play tennis n a Division 1 university in the United States.

Tel Avivian Noa Hamenoo, 11, dreams of becoming a professional tennis player and competing in Wimbledon like her idol, Serena Williams.

“I love Serena,” gushed Hamenoo.

Noa Hamenoo – from Tel Aviv – dreams of becoming the next Serena Williams (Credit: Howard Blas)

“[Noa] calls herself the Serena of Israel,” quipped Jacqueline Glodstein, the ITEC Executive Vice President for Global Development.

Hamenoo has not had an easy life and appreciates the opportunities tennis offers.

“I live in an underprivileged neighborhood in South Tel Aviv,” she said. “My parents came to Israel from Ghana, West Africa. I have two sisters and one of them was born prematurely resulting in her having cerebral palsy; she is my inspiration.”

Hamenoo feels the tennis centers are “a safe place where I can come and be with my many friends.”

The youngest, and perhaps liveliest, member of the group was Ariel Kolandarov. The 10-year-old from Tel Aviv, and the top-ranked player in his age group, confidently proclaimed that “I want to be No. 1, like [Novak] Djokovic!” as he playfully signed an autograph.

According to Yoni Yair, ITEC’s Vice President of Development, Kolandarov’s aspirations may not be too far off.

“Ariel is one of the most talented we have ever brought for an exhibition. He has great promise for Israel tennis,” said Yair.

Kolandarov lives with his parents – immigrants in 2002 from Uzbekistan – and his tennis playing sister, Sabrina.

“My parents were both orphans, from the same orphanage in Tashkent, where they met and fell in love. After they married, they made the very difficult move to Israel and settled in Tel Aviv, where we now live. It’s a very poor area, but it’s home. My mom works as a cleaning lady and my dad is a driver. My sister and I receive full scholarships which allows us to benefit from the social services and English language tutoring at the ITEC.”

Over the last 43 years the Israel Tennis & Education Centers has grown and evolved into a social service organization that teaches tennis, offers academic enrichment and mentoring and in the process and empowers thousands of vulnerable children from diverse backgrounds. The foundation started with one center in 1976 and now features 14 centers throughout Israel.

Glodstein noted that people continue to respond positively to the name change—from Israel Tennis Centers to Israel Tennis & Education Centers.

“It is an affirmation of what we do,” she said. “Tennis is just one part of our mission, teaching values and life skills is even more important.”

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Original Article Published On The Enlace Judío

Enlace Judío México e Israel.- “Soy de familia árabe. Es un privilegio para mí interactuar con mis amigos judíos y construir nuevas amistades a lo largo de los años“, dijo la nativa de Haifa, Rand Najjar, de 15 años.

Una multitud de 68,059 personas el lunes en el Centro Nacional de Tenis Billie Jean King de la USTA en Flushing Meadows, Nueva York, fue la más grande que asistió a un día inaugural en la historia del Abierto de Estados Unidos. Pero los asistentes no vieron a ningún israelí en acción. Por primera vez en muchos años, no hubo israelíes entre los hombres, mujeres o jóvenes para singles o dobles en el Abierto de Estados Unidos.

Eso puede cambiar en el futuro si los esfuerzos recientes de los recién nombrados Centros de Tenis y Educación de Israel (ITEC) tienen éxito. Pero incluso si el ITEC nunca produce tenistas de clase mundial, ya están produciendo miles de ciudadanos tolerantes e inclusivos que servirán como embajadores importantes en Israel y en todo el mundo.

Cuatro prometedores jóvenes tenistas israelíes, de diversos orígenes, ciudades natales y centros de tenis en todo Israel, asistieron a los partidos de apertura del US Open para ver a sus héroes en acción y celebrar la conclusión de participar en cinco exhibiciones de tenis en ocho días en Nueva York, Boston. y Cleveland

Nativa de Haifa, Rand Najjar, de 15 años, participa en el Programa de Convivencia de Alto Rendimiento en Haifa, que atrae a jugadores judíos, musulmanes y cristianos. Najjar, quien ha jugado tenis durante 10 años y es considerada una de las mejores jugadoras de su grupo de edad en Israel, habló con The Jerusalem Post esta semana sobre su experiencia.

“Soy de familia árabe. Es un privilegio para mí interactuar con mis amigos judíos y construir nuevas amistades a lo largo de los años“, dijo. “No sentimos que haya diferencias entre nosotros. Todos somos iguales. Y sentimos que el centro de tenis es un lugar tan tranquilo“.

Eden Eneli, también de Haifa y actualmente estudiante de la Universidad de Tel Aviv, entrena en el programa de alto rendimiento y trabaja con el equipo nacional de tenis de Israel. Si bien se complace en entrenar a jugadores con diversos antecedentes en la ciudad donde creció, hizo hincapié en el papel mucho más importante de los Centros de Tenis y Educación de Israel en la vida de los participantes.

“Mi primer objetivo es educar a la próxima generación. Mi segundo objetivo es ser su entrenadora de tenis “.

Nir Skolotsky, de 15 años, que vive en Beersheba y participa en el programa High Performance, ha jugado en torneos internacionales. Sueña con recibir una beca completa para estudiar y jugar tenis en una universidad de la División 1 en los Estados Unidos.

Tel Avivian Noa Hamenoo, de 11 años, sueña con convertirse en tenista profesional y competir en Wimbledon como su ídolo, Serena Williams.

“Amo a Serena“, dijo Hamenoo.

Noa Hamenoo, de Tel Aviv, sueña con convertirse en la proxima Serena Williams (Credito: Howard Blas)

“[Noa] se llama a sí misma la Serena de Israel“, bromeó Jacqueline Glodstein, vicepresidenta ejecutiva de ITEC para el Desarrollo Global.

Hamenoo no ha tenido una vida fácil y aprecia las oportunidades que ofrece el tenis.

“Vivo en un barrio desfavorecido en el sur de Tel Aviv“, dijo. “Mis padres vinieron a Israel desde Ghana, África occidental. Tengo dos hermanas y una de ellas nació prematuramente, lo que la llevó a tener parálisis cerebral; ella es mi inspiración“.

Hamenoo siente que los centros de tenis son “un lugar seguro donde puedo venir y estar con mis muchos amigos“.

El miembro más joven y quizás más animado del grupo fue Ariel Kolandarov. El niño de 10 años de Tel Aviv, y el jugador mejor clasificado en su grupo de edad, proclamó con confianza que “¡Quiero ser el número 1, como [Novak] Djokovic!“, mientras juguetonamente firmaba un autógrafo.

Según Yoni Yair, vicepresidente de desarrollo del ITEC, las aspiraciones de Kolandarov pueden no estar muy lejos.

“Ariel es uno de los más talentosos que hemos traído para una exhibición. Es una gran promesa para el tenis de Israel“, dijo Yair.

Kolandarov vive con sus padres, inmigrantes en Uzbekistán en 2002, y su hermana tenista, Sabrina.

“Mis padres eran huérfanos, del mismo orfanato en Tashkent, donde se conocieron y enamoraron. Después de casarse, se mudaron a Israel y se establecieron en Tel Aviv, donde ahora vivimos. Es un área muy pobre, pero es el hogar. Mi mamá trabaja como señora de la limpieza y mi papá es conductor. Mi hermana y yo recibimos becas completas que nos permiten beneficiarnos de los servicios sociales y la tutoría en inglés en el ITEC“.

Durante los últimos 43 años, los Centros de Educación y Tenis de Israel han crecido y evolucionado hasta convertirse en una organización de servicio social que enseña tenis, ofrece enriquecimiento académico y tutoría, y en el proceso, empodera a miles de niños vulnerables de diversos orígenes. La fundación comenzó con un centro en 1976 y ahora cuenta con 14 centros en todo Israel.

Glodstein señaló que las personas continúan respondiendo positivamente.

Read It in English in Jerusalem Post

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