Dynamic duo eyes Oz Open title

ISRAEL’S only grand slam winners, Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich, will join forces at the Australian Open next week, for the first time since winning the doubles title at Melbourne Park in 2008.

And having both slid down the ranking since breaking off their partnership, the players are once again setting their sights on the top 10.

“When we separated, we were among the top four in doubles in the world,” mused Ram. “But now we aren’t so we can only go up from here. We feel like a married couple who separated and got back together again. The aim is to return to the top 10.”

According to Erlich, a reunion was always on the cards.

“It felt good to join up because we continued training together in Israel,” he told The AJN. “It has given us added energy and there is always excitement ahead of a new season.”

While Ram and Erlich are hoping to repeat their previous success, Shahar Peer and Dudi Sela are aspiring to become the first Israelis to win a grand slam in singles competition.

Thirteenth-seed Peer hasn’t been past the third round of the Australian Open since she lost to eventual winner Serena Williams in a gripping quarterfinal, 3-6, 6-2, 8-6, in 2007.

Peer chose to play the Brisbane International in the lead-up to the first grand slam of the year instead of the ASB Classic in Auckland, where she has faced protests for the past two years.

“I’m working very hard on my game, I want my serve to be better and improve my tennis,” Peer said.

“I want to keep being aggressive, and I want to do better in grand slams and keep doing well in the big tournaments.”

Sela, who is currently ranked 95th in the world, has warned fans that he does not expect to emulate his amazing run in 2009 that saw him reach the round of 32.

Having missed several months of tennis last year with a back injury he  told The AJN he hasn’t played enough matches leading into the Open.

“I hope I will get a good draw and I’ll just focus on the first round and then see how I go,” Sela said.

“I haven’t played a lot of matches this year because I was injured with my back last year, so I’ll do my best of course, but I don’t have a specific aim for the tournament.”

His chances of success in the Open aside, Sela said he was delighted to be kick-starting his career again in Australia.

“A lot of Jewish people come to watch here and it’s a really good place to come and play tennis.”

JOSHUA LEVI