Voice of Jewish Sport: Games set and match for Israeli tennis?

OUR COVERAGE of Wimbledon in the Jewish News seems to diminish with each passing year – but there’s a very good reason for that. Quite simply, Israeli tennis is on something of a downward curve. Gone are the days when up to half-a-dozen Israelis graced the grass courts of SW19 – nowadays it seems you’re lucky to see a couple of players reach the main draw of the various competitions. This year saw Dudi Sela as the only player to automatically qualify for the first round proper, with Amir Weintraub, Julia Glushko, Shahar Peer and Yoni Erlich all needing to come through a series of qualifiers – maybe we should just focus on getting down to Roehampton for a few days. Weintraub and Glushko both fell at the first hurdle – the first qualifying round – while Peer and Erlich have at least reached the final round and were one win away from the main draw last night. While never expecting an Israeli tennis player to seriously challenge for a Grand Slam title, it used to be the case where getting through the first week was deemed as a success, now just reaching the first day is something to be celebrated.

WHILE ARSENAL lifting the FA Cup, signaling the end of the football season – is still fresh in our minds (well at least some of us) – those who love their football will be delighted to know next season gets underway…next week. Beitar Jerusalem play their first European club game since 2008 when they travel to Kazakhstan to take on Ordabasy Shymkent next Thursday, while Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv have another week of respite before beginning their long, arduous task of trying to reach the group stage of the Champions League. So much for a summer break.

IT’S SECONDS out for Tony Milch as the middleweight boxer gets set for his eighth professional fight. Still defending a 100 percent unbeaten record, the world-famous York Hall on 18 July is set to be a sell-out affair and ‘2Guns’ Milch is hoping for a vociferous support to cheer him on. For tickets details, email: milch1@live.co.uk.