 Photographer: Nir Keidar
Date: 12 Jul 2009 |  Photographer: Nir Keidar
Date: 12 Jul 2009 |  Photographer: Nir Keidar
Date: 12 Jul 2009 |  Photographer: Nir Keidar
Date: 12 Jul 2009 |  Photographer: Nir Keidar
Date: 11 Jul 2009 |  Photographer: Nir Keidar
Date: 11 Jul 2009 |
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| 12 Jul 2009 - Nokia Stadium, Tel Aviv - Ray Stevens - ISR v RUS | |
| Israel celebrates historic victory |
Israel’s advance to the semifinals of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas at the weekend marked one of the 61-year-old nation's sporting highlights, its greatest ever tennis achievement and possibly also in all its sporting endeavours.
The tie ended at 4-1 to Israel after Dudi Sela retired at 3-4 down in the first set against Igor Andreev in the first of the dead rubbers, but the adoring Israeli crowd nevertheless turned out on Sunday even though the result had already been settled and some 3,500 spectators then witnessed an enjoyable three-setter between Harel Levy and Igor Kunitsyn which Levy won 64 46 76(2).
Before the start of the tie, many commentators and even some of the players feared that by moving it to the air-conditioned indoor Nokia Stadium in Tel Aviv from the usual outdoor Canada Stadium venue at Ramat Hasharon in the height of summer would cancel a major advantage for the hosts.
But the gamble more than paid off for the hosts as the far modern facility which can accommodate 11,000 spectators - more than twice as many as at Ramat Hasharon - provided a unique atmosphere for a thrilling tie and brought the best out of the host players.
It was by far the largest attendance for a tennis event in the country's short history.
"What a team ... I think that as a team we are the No. 1 team in the world.” Andy Ram said when explaining the secret behind Israel's success. “We are all friends, we all grew up together since the age of 14, we know each other so well, and the families too, I don't think there has been any other team like it, there is such friendship and its great to experience.
"The reason we are in the semifinals is because of the motivation, because we are a united team, everybody pushes everybody and its a really nice feeling," Ram added.
Kunitsyn said he could not stop thinking about Saturday's disappointment when he and Marat Safin lost the doubles rubber in the final set after coming back from two sets down.
"I feel sorry for the team because everybody gave 100 percent, everyone gave everything they had for the team and the fans but unfortunately there is nothing we can do, we have to forget it and move on to the next event," Kunitsyn said.
Israeli captain Eyal Ran said he could not have envisaged this achievement when he took over as the new captain four years ago.
"We started in a relegation play-off to avoid dropping to Euro/Africa Zone II when we won in Zimbabwe and then we had a few more successes and slowly we have put together a team that has galvanised into a homogeneous unit that rises to the big occasions and plays above itself," Ran said.
Israel next travel to Spain for the semifinals. Much of the talk and anticipation at the Nokia Stadium on Sunday was that Germany should manage to win and then the tie would be played in Tel Aviv, and with past successes the Israelis felt that anything could happen.
In Spain in September, however, things look very different and the hosts will be the clear front-runners on their favoured red clay.
"It will be a frightening prospect to play in Spain against such great players and although we don't know what will happen, we do know that the next time we have to play them it will be here and then we will feel a lot more confident," Ram said on Saturday after Israel secured victory in the tie.
Related Links on other websites
> Information in Hebrew - ITA
> Information in Russian - RTF
Related Links on Daviscup.com
> Tie Information
> Scorecards and statistics from the tie
> Audio interviews from the tie
> Israel makes history
> Incredible day for Israel
> Tarpischev opts for experience
Related Audio
 Interview with Igor Andreev (RUS) - day 3
Interview with Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) - day 3
Interview with Marat Safin (RUS) - day 3
Interview with Harel Levy (ISR) - day 3
Interview with Andy Ram (ISR) - day 3
 
If you cannot hear the audio, then please update your media player by following one of the links above.
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