Israeli duo handed doubles defeats at US Open

Dudi Sela and Jonathan Erlich’s US Open campaigns are over for another year after both suffered second round exit in the men’s doubles competition.

Sela, teaming up with Frenchmen Stephane Robert was beaten 7-6, 6-4 by the tournament’s 12th seeds, Poland’s Lukasz Kubot and Austrian Alexander Peya, while Erlich and Mexican Santiago Gonzalez were beaten 6-4, 6-4 by the third seeds, American brothers Bob and Mike Bryan.

Another casualty in the men’s doubles was Argentine Diego Schwartzman, who made it a hat-trick of second round exits. He and compatriot Andres Molteni were beaten 7-5, 6-7, 6-4 by Spanish duo David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco.

In the mixed doubles, American teenager Noah Rubin and compatriot Jamie Loeb suffered a first round exit, being beaten 7-5, 6-4 by Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski and India’s Rohan Bopanna.

There was one Israeli success on Saturday though, as Shelley Krolitzky booked her place in the main round of the junior girls’ event. The 17-year-old beat American Vanessa Ong 6-4, 7-5 in what was her second qualifier, and now takes on American Abigail Desiatnikov in the first round.

Israel also have a representative in the junior boys’ singles event, where Yshai Oliel faces British-born Bolivian Juan Carlos Manuel Aguilar in the first round.