ISRAEL TENNIS ASSOCIATION

Originally appeared in In Jewish News Syndicate in www.jns.org, February 5, 2026

Home crowd and spirited doubles win highlight Israel’s return to the tournament after a two-and-a-half-year absence.

(Feb. 8, 2026 / JNS) Israel lost 3–1 to Lithuania in a two-day Davis Cup World Group I tie in Netanya over the weekend, despite a spirited effort and strong support from an enthusiastic home crowd at the Netanya Arena.

The Davis Cup returned to Israel for the first time in two-and-a-half years, drawing nearly 2,500 flag-waving fans who packed the arena, pounding drums and cheering on Israel’s five-man squad. While hopeful, supporters were also realistic. The disparity in world rankings proved too great for Israel to overcome.

Israel’s highest-ranked player, Amit Vales, entered the tie at No. 873 in the world, with the remaining four ranked around 1200. Lithuania’s two players who competed were ranked No. 129 (Vilius Gaubas) and No. 277 (Edas Butvilas).

Now in its 126th year, the Davis Cup is the world’s largest annual international team competition, with a record 160 nations participating in 2026. This weekend alone, 78 teams competed across 39 countries.

The event officially opened Thursday with a draw ceremony and media conference at the Vert Lagoon Netanya Hotel. Israel Tennis Association President Avi Perets welcomed the delegations, while International Tennis Federation representative Alex Hughes noted the tournament’s global reach. Netanya Mayor Avi Slama spoke of sport’s unifying power, saying it can help “bring peace in the world.”

Friday’s matches began with a formal ceremony, as ball kids and officials led both teams onto the court. National anthems were played, and chair umpires from countries including Spain and England officiated the matches in both English and Hebrew.

In Friday’s opening singles match, Amit Vales faced Edas Butvilas in their first-ever meeting. Vales rallied after trailing early, forcing a tiebreak, but lost the first set 7–6 (7–3) before Butvilas closed out the match with a dominant 6–0 second set.

In the second match, Ofek Shimanov played Vilius Gaubas, who took the first set 6–0 in just 23 minutes. Shimanov improved in the second set but Gaubas prevailed 6–4. “I started really slow—I felt a bit of pressure,” Shimanov said.

Lithuania led 2–0 after Friday. On Saturday, Lithuania reshuffled its doubles lineup, pairing Gaubas and Butvilas in an effort to clinch the tie early. Israel countered with doubles specialist Daniel Cukierman alongside Shimanov.

After falling behind early, the Israelis mounted a dramatic comeback, winning their first set of the weekend 7–6 in an 11–9 tiebreaker before closing out the match 6–3. The victory narrowed Lithuania’s lead to 2–1.

Cukierman praised the crowd and urged fans to stay for the decisive fourth match, which would determine whether the tie extended to a fifth rubber.

In that match, Vales faced Gaubas. After dropping the first set 6–1, Vales battled back to take the second set 6–3. In the deciding set, however, Gaubas regained control and sealed the match 6–2, despite Vales taking a medical timeout for a forearm issue.

Gaubas later acknowledged the challenge of playing in a loud arena filled with drums and chants.

With the win, Lithuania advances to World Group I play in September, with the chance to reach the Qualifiers. Israel will compete in Davis Cup Group II later this year.

Members of the Lithuanian team said they enjoyed their stay in Netanya, particularly its seaside location. While practice schedules limited sightseeing, the Israel Tennis Association (ITF) arranged tours of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv for members of the delegation.

Lithuanian captain Laurynas Grigelis, who previously competed in Israel, said he hopes to return. Assistant coach Tadas Babelis praised the organization, hospitality and food, adding that the team had no security concerns. An ITF official summed up the visit by saying, “Israel is not what you see on TV.”

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Originally appeared in In Jewish News Syndicate in www.jns.org, February 3, 2026

On Feb. 6-7, Israel will host Lithuania in World Group I Davis Cup action at the 2,000-seat Netanya Arena. 

The multi-tiered international tennis tournament returns to Israel after a two-and-a-half-year absence. Israel’s Davis Cup team last hosted a tie in September 2023, when it defeated Japan 3-2.

Israel’s team comes to this weekend’s tournament after a loss to Canada last September, while Lithuania arrives after a victory over Benin. This is the first-ever meeting between the two teams. The competition, which takes place indoors on hard courts, will determine which team will survive in Group 1 of the World Cup.

“All ties are new and exciting. I still get butterflies in my stomach before each Davis Cup!” reported team captain Jonathan Erlich, a former Israeli doubles player and veteran of many Davis Cup games.

Erlich is looking forward to playing in front of a home crowd, noting, “The spectators are always so warm and patriotic.”

The road to hosting the tournament wasn’t smooth. The Israel Tennis Association had to assure the International Tennis Federation (ITF) of the safety of playing the tournament in Israel.

Even with the ITF’s go-ahead, the threat of a changing situation in the region remains a possibility. “After two and a half years, hopefully it will happen,” Ehrich told JNS in a phone interview. 

Erlich observed that, unlike in his playing days, where he teamed up with doubles partner Andy Ram and the team included such top-ranked players as Ram, Dudi Sela and Amir Weintraub, this year’s team includes players ranked no higher than 873 in the world, with most currently playing for college teams in the United States. 

“It feels a bit different than the past few Davis Cups,” Erlich said. “Fifty percent of the team is in college now, so I can’t track their matches. I have at least been in touch with their coaches and know they are coming in good shape.”

The team includes Amit Vales (20 years old; #873), Orel Kimhi (22, #1194), Ofek Shimanov (20, #1212), Daniel Cukierman (30, #1213 singles; #137 doubles) and Jordan Hasson (26, career high of 912). Kimhi plays at the University of Oklahoma and Shimanov plays at Arizona State University.

Cukierman has played professionally since graduating from the University of Southern California, and last month won the Nonthaburi 2 ATP Challenger tournament in Thailand.

Cukierman, the veteran of the Israeli team, told JNS that he expects to be playing doubles for Team Israel this weekend. He playfully offered, “I will let the younger guys focus on getting singles points.”

“We come to this match with a lot of responsibility and pride to represent Israel. There is a lot of meaning. We are very excited to host,” added Erlich. 

“It is also important for the future of Israeli tennis since fans get to see high-level tennis right here in Israel. And there should be about 200 kids coming to watch in a very small arena, which is sold out! 

“After two and a half years in which we were forced to play away, the excitement of finally returning to Israel and playing in front of Israeli fans is immense and gives us additional strength,” he said.

The Lithuanian team, captained by former ATP doubles player Laurynas Grigelis, includes Vilius Gaubas (# 129), Edas Butvilas (#277), Pijus Vaitiekunas (#1471) and Dovas Dersonas (19 years old; no rank). 

Friday’s two singles matches kick off at noon. Saturday’s doubles match and potential additional singles matches start at 11 am.

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The Original Article is Posted at JNS.org

Israeli doubles team Daniel Cukierman and Edan Leshem retired against the Czech team of Tomas Machac and Adam Pavlasek due to an injury to Cukierman’s hamstring.

Israel’s hopes for a dramatic comeback from a 2-0 deficit against Czechia on day 2 of the 2024 Davis Cup World Group in Trinec, Czechia were quickly dashed after only five games on Sunday when the Israeli doubles team of Daniel Cukierman and Edan Leshem retired against the Czech team of Tomas Machac and Adam Pavlasek due to an injury to Cukierman’s hamstring. Czechia advances to September’s Group Stage Finals for the second year in a row. Israel returns to Group I and will be in action in September.

The Czech team got off to a fast start, breaking the Israelis in the first game of the set and holding serve in the second game. In game three, Cukierman grasped his hamstring in pain after trying to chase down a Machac lob. He returned from a medical time out with his hamstring taped and briefly continued the match. The Israelis, now down 4-0, won their first game as Cukierman held serve. He was in obvious pain and retired, giving the Czechs a 4-1 win and a sweep of the best of five series.  

The fourth match, no longer necessary to determine the series outcome, was played with Israel’s Orel Kimhi (#456) losing to Czechia’s Vit Kopriva  (#115) 3-6, 6-3, 11-9. Kimhi was the only Israeli in the two-day affair to win a set versus the Czechs.

In Saturday’s contest, Israel’s 24-year-old lefty Yshai Oliel (#415) battled 18-year-old Jacob Menshik (#127), losing the 1 hour, 34 minute match 6-1, 7-5. Oliel, up 6-5 in the second set, nearly managed to take the match to a third set.

In the Saturday’s second match, Cukierman (#465) faced Jiri Lehecka, current #31 and former world #23, fresh off a 2nd round appearance in last month’s Australian Open. Cukierman lost the first set 6-1 and battled back down 6-5 to take the second set to a tie-breaker; he went on to lose 7-6.

“It was very difficult for me, I felt like I lost timing and confidence in the first set, but with the help of the team I managed to come back in the second set and play my game, put more balls into the field and try to attack as much as possible,” said Cukierman. “We were close throughout the whole process,” he added.

In commenting on both of Saturday’s matches, former Israel tennis great and current Team Captain Jonathan (“Yoni”) Erlich noted, “The games were quite similar. The Czech players started the game by storm and our players started defensively. They had chances to turn the score around but the Czech players played excellently and knew how to close the game. It’s definitely a tough mission to come back from 2:0 but we will try to focus on our next game [doubles] and hopefully the momentum will change.  We must prepare ourselves and believe that it can be done.”

Due to Cukierman’s impressive performance on Saturday, Erlich decided to substitute Cukierman for Roy Stepanov to team up with Leshem for Sunday’s doubles match. The extent of Cukierman’s injuries will be determined upon the team’s return to Israel.  

While Israel’s team members anticipated tough competition, they were not intimidated by the Czech team. Cukierman noted before the tournament, “We have played against the Czech players before and we know them well. They are very strong and there are clear differences in the ranking between the two teams. Of course we are the underdogs, but at the Davis Cup, you can’t tell and we will fight and try to surprise.” 

Oliel added, “Me and Tomas Machac—we grew up together and I know him well. He of course made an amazing jump. They are a great and strong team and we will have some tough games. We train very well and hope that we will be able to bring our abilities to fruition and win.”

While Erlich knew the Israeli team was facing stiff competition, playing the Czech team has special meaning for him.

“The last match against the Czech Republic was also the last in my career, so the memories are pleasant and exciting also thanks to the victory in the doubles game and on the other hand less happy than we lost in the end. I hope this time we can do a better result,” he said.

In 2022, the Czech team beat Israel 3-1 with Erlich and Cukierman scoring an impressive 6-3, 6-4 victory over Jiri Lehecka and Tomas Machac.

The 12 winning nations (out of the 24 in action around the world this weekend) will secure a place in the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage in September—alongside 2023 champions Italy, 2023 runners-up Australia and wild cards Great Britain and Spain.  

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