Israel’s national tennis team defeated host Switzerland 4-1 in the Davis Cup European Zone B final last week, moving Israel for the first time into the 16-nation final round of competition for the following year’s cup.
Most of the matches in the surprise victory were lengthy and hard-fought. Israeli veteran Shlomo Glickstein defeated Roland Stadler 4-6, 6-8, 8-6, 6-1, 4-3 (retired) when Stadler dove and broke a leg. Then Amos Mansdorf of Israel defeated Jakob Hlasek 6-2, 1-6, 6-3, 3-6, 12-10. In doubles, Hlasek and Markus Gundhardt beat Glickstein and Shahar Perkiss 6-2, 6-4, 6-1.
Israel clinched the best-of-five-match competition with Glickstein’s victory over Hlasek 6-3, 1-6, 8-6, 10-12, 11-9. In the final match, Mansdorf defeated Gundhardt 7-5, 6-3.
The competition was rescheduled to begin last Wednesday, rather than on the weekend, in order not to conflict with Rosh Hashanah. The Israel Tennis Association paid $15,000 to the Swiss to make up for the resulting lost revenue.
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