Sports

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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Original Article Posted on The Jerusalem Post

After war-related cancellation of tournaments and battling on the PR front, blue-and-white players back winning on the court as the Davis Cup nears.

When the war against Hamas started, the outlook for Israeli tennis looked bleak.

A major men’s tournament set to attract top players to Tel Aviv as well as six lower-level professional tournaments were canceled, a high-profile women’s tennis player offered negative comments about Israel, Israel Tennis Education Centers were unable to offer programs to hundreds of children, and Israel’s come-from-behind Davis Cup victory over favored Japan on September 17, just three weeks before the war, seemed a distant memory.

But thanks to the quick action and commitment of the Israeli tennis community, Israeli tennis is up and running, in the Holy Land and around the world, albeit with some caution and modifications.

The indoor hard-court Tel Aviv Watergen Open, scheduled for November 5-11 at the Expo Tel Aviv was abruptly called off due to the war. In a supportive statement, Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said: “The violence and acts of terror witnessed in Israel are beyond comprehension. We strongly condemn any form of terrorism and mourn the loss of innocent lives across this conflict. We hope and pray for peace in the region.”

Two-time Wimbledon finalist and current world No. 6 women’s tennis player, Ons Jabeur, was less sympathetic.

Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur has condemned acts of violence on social media, but also included the hashtag #FreePalestine in her post. (credit: REUTERS)

The 29-year-old Tunisian Muslim wrote on Instagram: “What Palestinians have been going through during the last 75 years is indescribable. What innocent civilians are going through is indescribable; no matter what their religion is, or what their origin is. Violence will never bring peace; I cannot stand with violence but I also cannot stand with people having their lands taken.” She ended her post with the #FreePalestine hashtag.

Israel Tennis Association registers a complaint

The ITA (Israel Tennis Association), via the ITF (International Tennis Federation), approached the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), the main organizing body of professional women’s tennis to complain about Jabeur’s post. Following a win at the WTA finals in Mexico in November, Jabeur continued to comment on the war.

“It’s very tough seeing children, babies dying every day,” she said. “It’s heartbreaking, so I have decided to donate part of my prize money to help the Palestinians.”

Avi Peretz, ITA chairperson, wrote in an ITA Facebook post: “This tennis player fights, incites and supports a murderous terrorist Nazi organization. We’re glad she’s in the minority…”

ITF President David Haggerty shared heartfelt condolences for the plight of Israel and Israelis.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of life. Our hearts go out to all those affected by the violence in Israel in recent days.”

Haggerty also thanked the ITA for the help and quick actions it took regarding the evacuation of the dozens of players, coaches and judges who were present in Israel ahead of international tournaments that were to take place in Israel. He added that the ITF “strongly condemns the violence we have witnessed in Israel. It is our fervent hope that peace and security in the region can be found.”

When the Watergen Tel Aviv Open was relocated to Sofia, Bulgaria, on short notice, Peretz played an important role in the tournament.

“My father is from Bulgaria,” he noted. “This is his hometown, and for me this is a very emotional moment.

“I hope that the situation in Israel will normalize and next year we will be able to invite Stefan Tsvetkov [President of the Bulgarian Tennis Federation] to the tournament with us.”

Tsvetkov offered support for Israel.

“We sympathize with our friends from Israel who at the moment cannot have a normal life and sports calendar. I hope that there will be peace in the region again soon.”

At the Sofia Open, Adriana Mannarino of France defeated Jack Draper of England in the Finals, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3.

Back home, meanwhile, former Israel tennis great, Jonathan (Yoni) Erlich, current director of the high-performance program at ITEC, reports on their countrywide efforts to meet the needs of children in need throughout Israel during these difficult times.

“For the first 10 days, the whole country was in shock and all of the tennis centers were shut down,” Erlich said. “But right away, we were in communication with our kids – through chat, Zoom and WhatsApp. Since there was no school, we gave them videos for homework, and encouraged them to keep active and exercise.”

ITEC has helped over 500,000 children, many of whom live in underserved towns throughout Israel, since opening its first center in 1976. ITEC currently serves nearly 7,000 children weekly throughout 24 Israeli communities.

Erlich recounted ways in which ITEC families and staff have been pitching in during the war.

“When people were evacuated from the south and from the north, families in Tel Aviv, Ramat Hasharon, Jerusalem, Haifa, and other places opened their homes to players and their families. We really used our great and strong organization to take care of all of our kids.”

He noted that within two or three weeks, tennis centers with bomb shelters resumed tennis operations and children were welcomed to play in any open center.

ITEC has also hosted soldiers from Special Forces in their Ramat Hasharon center for what Erlich described as a day of “fun, tennis, lessons and lectures about motivation” by himself and his former longtime doubles partner, Andy Ram.

Erlich, who is also captain of Israel’s Davis Cup team, recently learned that his team will be playing its next round versus the Czech Republic in the Czech Republic in February.

Israel is one of 24 teams to play in the Davis Cup qualifiers on the road to the World Cup.

“It is huge! I feel very fortunate to lead the team and still be connected with the Davis Cup after 23 years.”

There have been some posts on social media calling on the ITF (International Tennis Federation) to not allow Israel to participate in the Davis Cup. They note the ban on Russian players in the wake of the Ukraine conflict, who have not been allowed to participate in team events in tennis since March 1, 2022.

Erlich is unfamiliar with such posts and looks forward to his work with the current team (he has not named the team members yet). He is also excited about the “next generation” he hopes will emerge in the next few years.

In the meantime, several potential Israeli Davis Cup team players continue to represent their country in tournaments around the world.

Yshai Oliel, No. 434 in the world, recently advanced to the quarterfinals and semifinals of several tournaments in Greece. Daniel Cukierman, No. 481, played several tournaments in Italy, advancing to the quarterfinals in Ortisei, Italy.

Erlich is looking forward to the very important upcoming Davis Cup tie.

“Now it is more urgent to do something great and show joy. We will go proudly to the tournament. If we usually give 100%, this year we will give 200%!”

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Original Article is Published at jpost.com

Disclaimer: Howard Blas CONTRIBUTED to the article but only wrote the latter part about tennis player Ons Jabeur.

Many players, leagues help and support Israel • Tunisian tennis star Jabeur in hot water over war stance

Israeli teams are beginning to make plans to get back into the swing of things as best as they can during the war, as both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv basketball teams will be in action beginning on Tuesday.

The Reds will be playing Tuesday against Reyer Venice in Italy as they look to pick up where they left off in EuroCup action after defeating Cedevita Olimija 100-73 in their continental opener two weeks ago.

Danny Franco’s import players had left for Athens earlier last week while the Israelis joined the foreigners in Italy over the weekend as they prepare as best as they can despite the trying circumstances.

Venice features a familiar face in head coach Neven Spahija, who led Maccabi Tel Aviv on a pair of occasions over the past two decades. The Croatian bench boss has many ties to the Holy Land and contacted The Jerusalem Post at the onset of the war last Saturday night to share his feelings and emotions during this challenging time.

“I’m so sorry about this attack… disaster. Please stay strong and positive. Everything is going to be OK. Big hug for all of you.”

Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur has condemned acts of violence on social media, but also included the hashtag #FreePalestine in her post. (credit: REUTERS)

Maccabi Tel Aviv will also return to action as it heads to Valencia for a Euroleague date on Wednesday night and then will fly to Athens to play Panathinaikos on Friday evening in a tough double week.

The yellow-and-blue’s foreign players departed for Cyprus as war broke out and the Israelis will now meet up with the rest of the squad. With a 96-81 win over Partizan Belgrade in the season opener, Maccabi will look to continue the positive momentum in Spain and Greece. In addition, the club’s former general manager Nikola Vujcic, who just left his post this summer, has volunteered to accompany Maccabi as it restarts its European campaign.

Israel’s basketball scene adapts and acts amid war

Meanwhile, over the past week Israel’s first NBA player Omri Casspi – along with Maccabi captain John DiBartolomeo, Rafi Menco, Roman Sorkin, Jake Cohen and head coach Oded Katash – all made visits to various locations in the country to raise the spirits of the many families that have been displaced due to the war.

“We’re trying to give the children a moment of joy and getting them to smile while we play with them. We are trying to do something and anything that we can will be a help to all of them,” Sorkin said.

Casspi spoke about what he has been doing over the past week to contribute as best as he can.

“Over the last few days I have been visiting many hospitals and here we are strengthening the families, but we are the ones who come out strengthened. We see the amazing power of the people of Israel as everyone is together with one goal. It is really heart warming.”

Hapoel Jerusalem and Hapoel Holon are making plans to begin their respective Basketball Champions League campaigns and will be trying to switch their home games with their opponents in order to be able to host fans at a later date.

The Purples are slated to host Spanish side Rio Breogan next week, while the Reds are supposed to welcome Galatasaray from Turkey on November 1.

Bnei Herzliya, Ness Ziona, and Hapoel Galil Elyon are also in the same boat, with FIBA Europe Cup action set to begin.

Over on the soccer field, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa are going to gear up to play in their respective UEFA competitions – Conference League and Europa League – next week.

The yellow-and-blue are slated to host Zorya Luhansk, although management is trying to switch dates and visit the Ukrainian club at it temporary home in Lublin, Poland, on October 26.

The Greens are heading to Spain to play Villarreal on the same day as both Israel sides will need to get their full teams together after most foreigners opted to go home.

After a number of messages of support last week, Israeli star goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, who plays for Bayern Munich, came out with a strong statement that has been shared all over social media platforms.

“I know how it is to be an athlete, there is so much pressure and everyone’s eyes are on us. Every second, every minute, every hour. Sometimes it’s good because we can influence with just a few words to millions. I promise you, it’s not about politics, over 1,300 innocent civilians murdered, over 2,700 injured and more than 150 hostages in Gaza including babies and elderly. We’ve seen in the past in history 9/11 and the 2015 terror attack in Paris. We know how much terrorism hurts and how important it is to fight against it.

“We are still processing everything that is happening. The horror, the kidnaps, the terrorism. The stories we thought we would never hear again. I call on all athletes and sport organizations all over the world to stand together. Speak out against terror, make a donation and stay strong. Let’s honor the victims with a moment of silence and unite as we fight against evil.”

Prior to the United States and Germany International friendly in Hartford over the weekend, a moment of silence was held for the Israeli victims of the war with Hamas, while the NFL did the same at Thursday night’s matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos and continued to do so for the upcoming weekend of games across America.

Meanwhile, two-time Wimbledon finalist and current world No. 7 women’s tennis player Ons Jabeur, is finding herself in hot water over social media posts about the Israel-Gaza conflict.  

The 29-year-old Tunisian Muslim, who withdrew from the quarterfinals of this week’s Bank of Communications Zhengzhou Open due to a knee injury, condemned acts of violence in Israel and called for peace. But her lengthy post, which ended with the #FreePalestine hashtag, expressed her support for the Palestinians.  

In a lengthy Instagram post, Jabeur, who was born in the small town of Ksar Hellal and grew up in the larger nearby coastal town of Sousse on the Gulf of Hammamet, wrote:  “What Palestinians have been going through during the last 75 years is indescribable.  What innocent civilians are going through is indescribable; no matter what their religion is, or what their origin is. Violence will never bring peace; I cannot stand with violence but I also cannot stand with people having their lands taken.

“So understanding context is important, looking at what’s happening today and deciding to ignore recent history is irresponsible and won’t bring peace. And peace is all we care about. Peace is what everyone needs and deserves. Stop the violence and #FreePalestine.”

Jabeur’s stance elicited a response from the Israel Tennis Association.

“This tennis player fights, incites and supports a murderous terrorist organization,” said ITA Chairman Avi Peretz in a statement. “We’re glad she’s in the minority… We trust our security and rescue forces to do their job and we pray they return safely.”

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ISRAELI TEEN Liam Oved both won their first matches at US Open juniors qualifying before bowing out in the second round (photo credit: LEO STOLCK)

Original Article On The Jerusalem Post

As the men’s and women’s singles and doubles draws of the US Open proceed at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, a very different US Open is taking place at the Cary Leeds Tennis Center in Corona Park in the Bronx.

A determined group of teenagers is waiting for their matches to get under way in the US Open Juniors Championships Qualifying Competition.

Two Israel players – Mika Buchnik, 16, and Liam Oved, 18 – need to win two matches to advance to the juniors main draw, which will be played at the actual US Open.

The Israelis wait patiently indoors. Oved, icing an elevated leg, appears deep in thought, though she periodically looks up at her coach, Tom Baten, out to the courts and back to her phone to the US Open app so she will have an idea of when she will begin to play.

At a nearby table, Buchnik sits next to her coach, former Israeli tennis great Dudi Sela. She stares out the window watching a match in progress – until Sela gets her up to begin stretching and warming up for her match, the third on Court 8.

ISRAELI TEENS Mika Buchnik (left) and Liam Oved both won their first matches at US Open juniors qualifying before bowing out in the second round (credit: HOWARD BLAS)

ISRAELI TEENS Mika Buchnik (left) and Liam Oved both won their first matches at US Open juniors qualifying before bowing out in second round (credit: HOWARD BLAS)

Except for Guy Sasson, scheduled to compete in the quads wheelchair tournament, Liam and Mika are Israel’s only hope for representation in this year’s US Open. If the girls can win two matches in two days, they would enter the juniors’ main draw.

Buchnik, the tournament’s second seed, is currently No. 44 in the world. She grew up playing atIsrael Tennis and Education Centers (ITEC) in Israel and has been working with Sela and Yoav Ben Tzvi at the Dudi Sela Tennis Academy for a year. It has been a busy, successful year of playing tournaments around the world.

In January, Buchnik reached the finals at a junior’s tournament in San Jose, Costa Rica and reached the quarterfinals at a tournament in Ecuador one week later. She has also played in tournaments in Thailand, Great Britain and Germany including the Wimbledon qualifying draw.

In July, Buchnik lost in the finals at a tournament in Durban, South Africa, and made the quarterfinals at another Durban tournament one week later. She made it to the third round of a tournament in College Park, Maryland before arriving in New York.

Buchnik describes her own playing style as “mostly aggressive and staying back (at the baseline.”

She attends the Lady Davis School in Tel Aviv which she notes can be difficult given her tennis schedule.

“It is hard but my teachers help me.”

Oved, the No. 9 seed, has followed a very different tennis route from Buchnik. Oved is currently ranked 75th in the world, though she has reached as high as 61.

In many ways, Oved is fairly unknown, even among Israeli tennis fans. This may be attributed to her modest nature, to the fact that she left Israel several years ago to train in Belgium, to the fact that she has never been part of Israel’s formal tennis player development system.

Her Belgian coach Baten, refers to her as a “late bloomer,” noting that she continues to grow and develop mentally and physically and that her game continues to improve.

Baten, who has coached such players as Belgian Greet Minnen (who defeated Venus Williams in Round 1 of this year’s US Open), enjoys working with Oved.

“She is passionate, she has fire, she is a warrior and a competitor on the court. She is also respectful, knows her values and is very open. I want her to be a complete player.”

While Baten has never been to Israel, he is looking forward to working with her in Israel for two weeks this fall.

The good natured, well-spoken Oved is in many ways an “accidental tennis player.” She grew up in Kfar Shmaryahu near Herzliya with her sights on gymnastics and dance.

“When I was eight years old, a friend’s mother was starting a tennis program near our house and didn’t have enough players. She asked the whole class if we want to play and told us we could play for free,” recounts Oved.

Oved began playing tennis and enjoying it, though she adds laughing – “I didn’t know who Shahar Peer or Serena Williams were, and I didn’t even know how to count score.”

As she began to show promise, her parents asked her if she wished to devote more time to tennis – even if it meant cutting back or even giving up dancing and gymnastics. She worked with a series of coaches and the rest is history.

Oved’s tennis journey includes working with coach Oded Yatzkan.

“It was me and seven boys at Kfar Saba Yeruka. I had the best time.The level was so high. I was like a princess!”

She began playing tournaments in Israel and in Europe.

“It was not enough. I needed more. We realized I was 14 and needed more than Israel could offer. I felt limited in Israel. I love Israel. It is my country and my people. I thought about going to an academy alone in Canada, but it was unrealistic. I was 14 and it was the other side of the world.”

As the family considered options, they thought of Belgium.

Liam and her sisters moved to Belgium and her father remained in Israel.

At one point, her family returned to Israel for a month and she was forced to take her bike 40 minutes each way – twice a day – for tennis practice.

“My legs got so big, I couldn’t move on the court!”

When her mother returned to Belgium, Oved got more settled. She began playing at the Justine Henin Tennis Academy.

“From the first practice, I knew this was my place!”

After training at Henin for a year and a half, she moved on.

“I was 18 and started traveling on my own. It was the best decision I ever made.”

Oved, like Buchnik, has had a busy and successful year competing in tournaments around the world. She reached the second round in tournaments in San Jose and Ecuador and reached the quarterfinals at a tournament in Baranquilla, Colombia, in February.

Oved played additional tournaments in Egypt, Italy, Bulgaria, German, Belgium and England and Switzerland. Oved lost in the second round of the Wimbledon qualifying tournament.

Oved and Buchnik’s parents did not come to New York for the US Open qualifying tournament. They were able to follow each point live on the US Open app.

Both young women took to the courts for their first-round matches late afternoon last Thursday.

Few parents were in attendance. Coaches were permitted on court, and more than 50 college tennis coaches wandered the grounds watching prospective recruits in action.

Buchnik defeated Japan’s Nao Nishino 7-6, 4-6 and 10-6 in a super tiebreaker in her first-round match. A top college tennis coach, speaking on condition of anonymity, watched the whole match and noted: “Mika has a beautiful game. Her topspin groundstrokes are efficient with long hitting zones. It’s nice to see a young player with good fundamentals.”

Coach Dudi Sela was pleased.

“She is a very hard worker and very disciplined. Now, we will work on being more aggressive and on return of serve.”

Sela noted that players currently play fewer tournaments per year than he and his peers did when they were Mika’s age.

“We will put in effort in improving – I see her doing what I tell her to do and she is improving all the time!”

Oved defeated Anastasiia Firman of the Ukraine 7-6, 6-0 in the first round of the US Open qualifying tournament.

“I hope to keep going! I need to be aggressive, have a good first serve and most of all, have the right mindset!” Oved reported on court after her first match.

Sadly, Buchnik and Oved lost in their second-round matches – Jessica Bernales of the USA defeated Buchnik 7-6, 6-4, while Olivia Center of the USA defeated Oved 7-6, 6-2.

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