Glushko & Sela retain Israeli tennis titles

Julia Glushko and Dudi Sela successfully defended their Israel national tennis championship titles in Ra’anana.

Sela, ranked 99 in the world rankings, beat 17-year-old Edan Leshem (1,221) 6-1, 6-2, and did so in front of his new-born son. He said: “I was nervous playing in front of my son for the first time. I practice a lot with Edan and it wasn’t easy for him today. I think he can one day enter the top 100 and I’m sure he will soon be part of the Davis Cup squad.”

Lesham, who came into the tournament on the back of three ITF Junior event wins, said: “I was nervous at the start of the match and Dudi played really well.”

Glushko, ranked 154, beat Shahar Peer (117) 6-1, 6-3, and said: “I had a crazy week and this is a great way to finish it. I worked really hard in the past four weeks and it showed on court.

Preparations now start for the first Grand Slam of 2015, the Australian Open, which begins on 19 January.