tennis

The Original Article Published On The Jerusalem Post

Querrey’s lightning serve helped him dictate the match to win in a quick one hour and twenty minutes.

The enthusiastic chants of the partisan New York crowd could not carry Dudi Sela to victory in his second round US Open match Wednesday evening against world No. 21 Sam Querrey.

Querrey’s lightning serve helped him dictate the match on the way to a 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 win in a quick one hour and twenty minutes.

“You know, he is serving big and on my service game I was playing with a lot of pressure,” Sela told The Jerusalem Post. “I was not free, the points were so quick, I didn’t feel the match I didn’t even have time to change my shirt! It was really quick and there was no rhythm. I hate these types of matches. I usually put a lot of balls back. Today I couldn’t. From the first point, I couldn’t — he hit three aces in the first game. It was really difficult.”

Querrey jumped off to a quick 1-0 lead in the first set with Sela then holding serve. Querrey went up 3-1 and Sela fought back to tie at 4-4.

Querrey closed out the 29-minute set 6-4. The second set lasted just 22 minutes, and despite putting up a better fight in the third set, Sela couldn’t muster a comeback.

“He had one look where I broke him in the first set and he broke me right back,” said Querrey. “But then I was able to break him again to win that set. And once I won the first set, I gained a little more confidence and played even more aggressive, swung more freely and started to play better and better.

“Dudi is a tricky player. He’s got a fan club behind him, and they are loud and cheering on their guy.”

Sela is set to be in action in the doubles tournament on Thursday, teaming up with Steve Darcis of Belgium to face David Marrero of Spain and Benoit Paire of France in the first round.

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The Original Article Published On The Jerusalem Post

Loeb – ranked 156th in the world – acknowledged that she “had to battle” on court in a match which featured “interesting calls.” Loeb highlights “staying mentally strong” as the key to the match.

NEW YORK – After an impressive run at the US Open Qualifying Tournament, 22-years old Jamie Loeb fell just short of gaining entry to the main draw, losing 6-3, 6-4 to fellow American Sachia Vickery on Friday at Flushing Meadows.

Loeb, who is from Ossining, New York, and comes from a strong Jewish background, was coming off an enormous 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4 triumph over former world No. 2 Vera Zvonereva in the previous round.

The 32-year-old Russian – currently ranked 742nd in singles – was attempting a comeback after nearly two years away from the tour. Her distinguished career includes reaching the French Open quarterfinals in 2003, the Australian Open semifinals in 2009 and a runner up in the 2010 US Open for singles.

She won a pair of Grand Slam women’s doubles titles – at the 2006 US Open, partnering Nathalie Dechy, and at the 2012 Australian Open, with Svetlana Kuznetsova. She also holds major titles in mixed doubles – with Bob Bryan at the 2004 US Open and with Israeli Andy Ram in 2006 at Wimbledon.

Loeb – ranked 156th in the world – acknowledged that she “had to battle” on court in a match which featured “interesting calls.” Loeb highlights “staying mentally strong” as the key to the match.

“It was a great win, and I am really happy to get through it!” Her determination to reach the main draw of her favorite tournament will have to wait at least until next year after being defeated by Vickery, who is also 22 and is ranked just one spot better than Loeb, at No. 155. Loeb easily defeated Na-Lae Han of Korea, 6-4, 6-2 in Round 1 of the qualifiers.

The youthful Loeb is just starting to show her potential.

She attended the University of North Carolina for two years before taking a break in 2015 to join the pro tour. In her sophomore season, she won the women’s Singles National Championship, earned ACC Player of the Year and helped lead a North Carolina women’s tennis team that won the ITA National Indoor.

In 2015, Loeb won the Stockton Challenger tournament and received a wildcard into the 2015 US Open women’s draw where she was quickly dismissed by Caroline Wozniacki. This year, Loeb was in the singles qualifying draw for both the Australian Open, where she lost in the second round, and Wimbledon, losing in the first round.

Loeb attributes much of her love of tennis to her family, who attended the US Open every year when she was growing up Unlike her siblings, who attended religious school at Congregation Sons of Israel in Briarcliff Manor, New York, her sister Jenna said that, “Jamie did not attend Hebrew school or celebrate her bat mitzvah – primarily due to a demanding tennis schedule.”

Jenna also said that Jamie has not yet visited Israel but “wants to go.”

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The Original Article Published On The Jerusalem Post

No longer the face of Israeli tennis, retired star opens up about her impressive career and post-playing life

As Dudi Sela, Jonathan Erlich, and Yshai Oliel pack up their rackets, shoes and other tennis essentials and head to New York for the US Open, Shahar Pe’er, Israel’s greatest woman tennis player of all time, is staying put in Israel – baking, visiting relatives and sipping coffee with friends.

A very relaxed, upbeat Pe’er, who retired from tennis in February at the age of 29, will casually keep tabs on the Grand Slam event from afar as she plans the next phase of her post-tennis life.

Pe’er, who turned 30 in May, had a distinguished pro tennis career which included cracking the top 20 in both singles and doubles. After turning pro in 2004, Pe’er won five singles and three doubles titles on the Women’s Tennis Association tour and became the first Israeli woman to make the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tennis event, doing it twice in 2007, at both the Australian Open and US Open.

In 2008, Pe’er was ranked No. 14 in doubles. In 2011, she reached her best singles ranking of No. 11 in the world.

Pe’er’s career highlights include becoming the first Israeli ever to compete at a WTA tournament in the Arabian Peninsula at the Qatar Total Open, and representing Israel at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2012 Olympics in London. She was also a devoted member of Israel’s Fed Cup team, compiling a 45-31 record.

Pe’er decided to retire after experiencing chronic inflammation in her right shoulder for more than two years. And she is really enjoying life post-tennis.

“It is nice to be home for a change – in my own bed, with my own sheets, doing my own laundry,” Pe’er told The Jerusalem Post, noting that people don’t often think of the routine events of daily life players on the professional tennis tour must forgo.

“It is nice not to pack every Sunday, and unpack, and to be with family, to celebrate birthdays and holidays at home, and to have no pressure.”

Pe’er, who has been playing tennis since the age of six-and-a-half, has begun lecturing to diverse audiences in Israel about her career, determination and hard work.

“I am happy to try and share what I have been through. I speak about dedication, about how I get myself out of tough situations on the court, sentences I used to say to myself when under pressure.”

Pe’er has thus far presented to children, pre-army 18-year-olds, special IDF army units, university students in Kiryat Shmona, and business leaders in the fields of banking and hi-tech.

She hopes to eventually present workshops outside of Israel as well.

Pe’er continues to work out regularly and stay in good shape physically. Even before officially announcing her retirement, Pe’er called her fitness coach and expressed interest in training for a marathon.

“It was my dream from the age of 15! He explained that it would require four or five months of training.”

In February, Pe’er ran the Tel Aviv Marathon.

“My family was there! It was really fun.”

Pe’er varies her workouts post marathon.

“I run once or twice a week, I do Pilates once a week, and I do a functional workout three days a week with a coach, focusing on running, weights and speed.”

Pe’er has even picked up a tennis racket “10 or 15 times” since retiring.

But fans hoping for a return to professional tennis should not be too optimistic.

“It was just for fun, with friends. It felt okay but I really don’t miss it!” Retirement has afforded Pe’er the opportunity to step back and reflect on her successful tennis career.

“There are so many memories. It is so hard to pick just one!” Pe’er is proud of helping the 2008 Israel Fed Cup Team reach the World Group, losing to Russia 4-1. She is proud of her two quarterfinal appearances in Grand Slams, including taking Serena Williams to a third set match at the 2007 Australian Open, before ultimately losing 3-6, 6-2, 8-6.

“That was huge!” And she is proud of her tournament titles.

“Each one of them is unique.”

Pe’er will always remember what happened to her and Israel leading up to a tennis tournament in Dubai.

“That was one of the biggest things in my career!” In 2009, Pe’er was refused entry to the United Arab Emirates because she was Israeli.

“I just wanted to play in the tournament, like any other player. I wanted to compete in this huge tournament.”

Venus Williams came to her defense, and Andy Roddick withdrew from the men’s tournament in protest. The incident attracted worldwide attention – and sanctions. The Wall Street Journal terminated its sponsorship and the Dubai organizers were fined a record $300,000 by the WTA . She was subsequently invited to play in 2010 and 2011.

Pe’er recalls, “2010 was more about breaking barriers in politics than sports.” She notes, “It was huge to get such support from these big players.”

Off court, Pe’er has also represented Israel with pride. In 2010, Pe’er led the March of the Living at the Auschwitz concentration camps, accompanied by mother, Aliza Pe’er and Holocaust survivor grandmother, Yuliana Eckstein.

“There are no words… It was so emotional, being next to my grandmother. She was from Slovakia and was in Auschwitz.”

Ms. Eckstein, who spent six months at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, died a year-and-a-half after participating in the March of the Living.

“I felt very privileged to do it, to walk with three generations.”

Israel and the tennis world appreciate all Pe’er has done for Israel tennis.

Asi Tuchmeyer, Chairman of the Israel Tennis Association admires Pe’er and is proud of her many accomplishments.

“She is one of the most successful Israeli athletes ever. During her 13-year career, Shahar modeled hard work, professionalism, and endless perseverance.

She was an ambassador of Israeli sport and tennis and led the Federation team to achieve their goals for more than a decade. We wish Shahar good luck in the future, and hope that, for Israeli tennis, a new Shahar Pe’er will be born!”

Shlomo Glickstein, CEO of the Israel Tennis Association and former No. 22 in the world, added: “For me, she is the biggest athlete in the history of the State, between her achievements throughout the years to her personality, and especially the very hard work, commitment, determination, and dedication to everything related to tennis – that is what characterized her.

“Shahar is a winner in her soul with an outstanding work ethic, which is rare in Israel and the world. For 13 years, Shahar sustained a high level career and reached extraordinary achievements, dedicated much to the Federation team and was fully involved throughout all the years with the ITA , her team and her family. I salute her for all of her achievements. A model athlete!” With the tennis world about to turn its attention to New York and the two-week US Open taking place from August 28 through September 10, Pe’er is watching from a distance.

“I don’t miss it, I don’t miss competing,” says Pe’er, but concedes, “I follow the scores… but not every day.”

Pe’er has fond memories of the US Open.

“I loved playing in the US Open. There was so much support from the fans. After Tel Aviv, New York is my favorite city!” While Pe’er does not closely follow Israel’s up and coming players, she notes that Yshai Oliel appears to be “the only one now with a bright future.”

Pe’er adds, “hopefully, other players will come along,” but she admits, “unfortunately, I don’t know too much.”

Would Pe’er consider a return to playing or coaching? “For now, I feel far away. I don’t see myself standing on the court for hours. It is too close to my [recent] retirement to think about it. Maybe in the future.”

For now, Pe’er is enjoying living in the present. She enjoys cooking and baking, working out, hanging out with friends and family, and spending time with her “pretty busy” heart surgeon boyfriend.

“I made the decision to retire and I am happy!”

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Original Article Published at The Jerusalem post

This year’s US Open attracted more than 30,000 fans each day of the two-week tournament. And any time a Jewish or Israeli fan saw “ISR” next to a player’s name, they raced to the court to watch players like Dudi Sela, Yshai Oliel and Shelly Krolitzky. The same is true when such Israeli players as Shahar Pe’er, Julia Glushko and Amir Weintraub are in action.

Perhaps more significant is the fact that hundreds of non-Jewish, non-Israeli fans also watch Israel tennis players in action each year at the US Open and at dozens of other tennis tournaments around the world.

Israeli tennis players are excellent emissaries for Israel and can do amazing things for Israeli hasbara (public relations).

The Israeli tennis establishment can take a lesson from the Jewish Agency Shlichim (the Hebrew word for emissaries) program. In some ways, they are already doing a great job sending tennis ambassadors around the world. There is more work to do and some pretty easy solutions.

The Jewish Agency does a great job screening and training post-army (and in some cases, pre-army) young men and women to serve Jewish communities, camps and schools. They bring the multi-faceted people, cultures and stories of Israel and Israelis to these various communities.

The Israel tennis establishment, consisting primarily of the Israel Tennis Association, Israel Tennis Centers and the David Squad is blessed with a talented group of well-liked and well-spoken professional and amateur players of all ages who travel the world.

While their primary job is to play tennis, they represent Israel in tournaments around the world.

The Israel Tennis Centers sends a delegation of young players several times a year to exhibitions in various communities across the United States.

The group tends to reflect the diversity of Israel and Israel Tennis Centers, including players who are Ethiopian, Israeli Arab, Bedouin, people with disabilities, and children from poor backgrounds.

These groups help people better understand the many faces and stories of Israel. It is important to keep these emissaries – professional and amateur – trained and ready to speak about Israel.

There is an untapped group of tennis players from around the world who our Israel tennis establishment, Ministry of Culture and Sport and Ministry of Tourism, should also nurture as tennis ambassadors.

The more foreign tennis players have a positive experience with Israelis and Israel, the more Israel stands to make progress on the PR front.

Last February, I spent four days in Eilat covering the Fed Cup Group I Europe/Africa Zone event which included teams from 14 countries.

In Eilat, players from all countries as well as coaches, umpires and members of the media stayed in the same hotel and ate all their meals together. I interviewed many top 100 players, coaches and ITF (International Tennis Federation) staff.

I wanted to find out about their experience in Israel and with Israelis. All loved Israel but wished their busy travel and playing schedules would allow more opportunities to explore the beautiful, historically significant country of Israel.

Shlomo Glickstein, the CEO of the Israel Tennis Association and former 22nd ranked player in the world, observed that “it is very important for Israel to host such competitions and we love to host large events. It attracts sponsors, media and role models for our young players.”

These players return to their countries as great spokespeople for Israel.

Israel has an unprecedented opportunity to use tennis to teach the world about all the Holy Land has to offer. Israeli players should be coached and trained in hasbara, and players who come to Israel for tournaments should be wined and dined.

If they can’t get to see Israel, they should at least return with gift baskets stuffed with “I Love Israel” shirts, IDF hats, and such Israeli products as Ahava, Bisli and Naot.

Tennis players know all about love from the tennis scoring system. Wouldn’t it be nice if players also love Israel and spread that love around the world?

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