tennis

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 Jerusalem Post

Leading up to the US Open, Schwarzman spent August competing in the ATP Master’s 1000 in Canada, where he lost in the second round.

Diego Schwartzman was bolstered by the Spanish-chanting crowd on Tuesday night as he cruised to a relatively easy 6-3, 7-6(6), 6-0 victory in his first-round US Open match versus Robin Haase of the Netherlands.

The win was the 20th-seeded Schwartzman’s first in six meetings with Haase.

“We last played more than two years ago,” said the 27-year-old Jew from Argentina. “The time is different and I think I have improved a lot. I am a different player than two years ago. So I think that was the key.”

Schwartzman currently holds an ATP ranking of 21 in singles and 40 in doubles. He has been a regular at the US Open since 2014, reaching the quarterfinals in 2017 and the third round last year. Despite his past success in New York, he knew a win against Haase was not guaranteed.

“I knew already before the match that it is difficult when you play a guy you have never beat. So it was a little tough. Sometimes I was nervous. Sometimes I didn’t play my best. But I won in three sets so I am very happy.”

Schwartzman’s 2019 highlights include capturing his third ATP title in Los Cabos, reaching the finals in a tournament in Buenos Aires and beating Kei Nishikori in the quarterfinals of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome, where he lost in three sets to No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.

“The most important tournament this year was Rome,” noted Schwartzman. “I was not playing my best tennis at that time. The clay season didn’t start in the best way and then in Rome I started playing really, really well again.”

Earlier in the year, he reached the third round at the Australian Open, while also making the French Open doubles semifinals with partner Guido Pella.

In June, he reached the quarterfinals in the London/Queen’s Club grass.  He lost in a tough five-setter in Wimbledon’s third round against Matteo Berrettini.

Schwartzman’s most impressive tournament of the year was last month in Los Cabos where he defeated Taylor Fritz in a two-set final.

Leading up to the US Open, Schwarzman spent August competing in the ATP Master’s 1000 in Canada, where he lost in the second round, and at the ATP Master’s 1000 in Cincinnati, where he lost to Richard Gasquet in the third round.

Schwartzman’s busy tournament schedule leaves little time for personal travel. He has spoken in the past of wanting to visit Israel. When asked in the press conference if he has visited Israel, he reports, “Not yet.”

Up next for Schwartzman in the second round is a match against Egor Gerasimov of Belarus.  He will play in the doubles draw with countryman Pella.

Other Jewish players in action on Tuesday included American Madison Brengle, who lost her first-round match 6-3, 6-3 to Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.

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