Boom recruit for Aussies
DAVID Sofaer will lead the Australian tennis squad at the Pan America Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in December.
DAVID Sofaer will lead the Australian tennis squad at the Pan America Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in December.
Sofaer will add the Games in South America to his already bulging international Maccabi CV, which has seen him compete at the Maccabiah Games in Israel, and the Maccabi Australia International Games.
Sofaer, who has played in the Wimbledon junior tournament and is now on a tennis scholarship at Pepperdine University in the US as he has a tilt at the international circuit, will spearhead Australia’s open team.
“[I’m excited by the] uniqueness of the games and the tournament,” Sofaer said. “I’m hoping it will attract many great international players from around the world. I’m hoping to be a contender for the gold. It won’t be as easy as it is open [competition] now, not juniors. However, I think I have a chance. I’m looking forward to the atmosphere of the Games and the tournament.”
Team manager Lauren Ehrlich said she aimed to build a team around the star recruit.
“We’ve got our number one guy,” Ehrlich said.
“We’d love a really strong partner for him, be it mixed or men’s doubles, But we’re also looking for others to step up into the squad.
Ehrlich added that the tennis facilities in Sao Paulo were state of the art, with more than a dozen indoor courts, plus clay and hard courts to practise on.
“Although our team will be small, there will be huge numbers in the
tennis tournament over there. We’ll be playing competitors from countries like Israel, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Argentina.”
Ehrlich also called on players to join the masters squad.
For more information, contact Lauren Ehrlich: 0410 550 384; lauren@bigpond.net.au.
AJN STAFF
comments