Two Jewish tennis players, Elliot Telscher and Aaron Krickstein, have been selected to represent the United States in the opening round of singles competition against the Japanese Davis Cup representatives in matches to be held in Japan March 8-10.
This marks the second time in 34 years that two Jewish tennis stars have been chosen to participate,jointly, in David Cup matches against foreign competition. In 1951, Dick Savitt, a Wimbledon tournament champion, and Herb Flam of California, were the Americans who played, coincidently, against the Japanese Davis Cup representatives at the Boat Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Both Savittand Flam won their respective matches and the U.S. team went on to defeat Japan 5-0 in the series.
The 27-year-old Telscher, currently ranked ninth in the world, has represented the U.S. in the Maccabiah Games. He earned more than $250,000 in tournament competition in 1984. Krickstein, meanwhile, at the age of 18, is ranked 12th internationally. A native of Michigan, he earned $187,519. One of the youngest players in international tennis circles, he is the grandson of a rabbi.
Still another Jewish nationally-ranked tennis player, Brad Gilbert, will be on the American team but will not be eligible to play against the Japanese team. He will be available to volley and scrimage with Telscher and Krickstein.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
