Israel take 2-1 lead over Austria in Davis Cup
Israel have taken a 2-1 lead over Austria in their Davis Cup World Group play-off tie after winning today’s doubles rubber.
Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram combined to take a 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4 win over Austria’s Jurgen Melzer and Alexander Peya to leave Israel just one more victory from securing their place in the World Group for 2011.
Yesterday’s opening day saw Israel’s Dudi Sela take a 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 win over Davis Cup debutant Andreas Haider-Maurer in the first singles rubber before Austrian No. 1 Melzer levelled the tie with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 win over 32-year-old Harel Levy.
Austria will now have the chance to again level the tie when Melzer takes on Sela in the fourth rubber of the play-off, and it’s the world No. 13 who should have the edge over the Israeli, who is ranked as the 85th best player in the world.
In their only previous meeting, in the first round of this year’s French Open, the left-handed Melzer recorded a straight sets win over Sela and if he can do so again in Tel Aviv, the tie looks set to be decided in the fifth rubber between veteran Levy and Haider-Maurer.
Israel were the surprise package of the Davis Cup in 2009, when for the first time since the team debuted in the Davis Cup in 1949 they reached the semi-finals of the competition.
They could not repeat that success in 2010, however, falling to a 4-1 defeat against Chile in the first round.
Austria, meanwhile are seeking to return to the World Group in 2011 after spending a year in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I as a result of their 3-2 loss to Chile in last year’s World Group play-off tie.
Tags: