RAMAT HASHARON, October 28, 2016
Israel is leading 2-0 over Sweden after Friday’s singles rubbers at the Davis Cup Group I Play-Offs, held at the Canada Stadium in Ramat HaSharon.
In pretty muggy conditions and in front of 3,000 spectators, including 10 Swedish fans, Elias Ymer lost the opening play 6-2, 6-3, 6-0 against Amir Weintraub. The 20-year-old Swede hit six aces but also produced nine double faults. Weintraub broke serve seven times to give Israel the 1-0 lead after one hour and 41 minutes.
A disappointed Elias Ymer in his post match press conference (photo: Brigitte Urban)
“This was my worst match of the whole year,” a disappointed Ymer told during his post-match conference.
“Every time I thought the momentum would go into my direction, Amir hit some winning bombs and I could not do anything. Of course, I was fighting, but sometimes these matches happen. In other situations, I won matches that I should have lost. The only thing I can do now, is to support Markus.”
When he was asked if he plays the doubles rubber on Saturday Ymer said: “If my brother Mikael was here, probably yes. But I have never played with the other partners and they have been practicing together for a while. So it is better that they play together. But if the captain wants me to play, I will play. And if he says ‘go to your room’ … I will stay in my room. I do whatever the Captain asks me to do.”
In the second singles rubber, Dudi Sela had no problems to defeat Markus Eriksson, who is ranked 385 places below Israel’s number one, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. The world number 71 capitalized on seven of his 14 break point chances to seal a comfortable victory in one hour and 43 minutes.
