Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., January 26, 2008 Shvat 19, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:16 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Yoni Erlich (Right) and Andy Ram celebrate their Australian Open doubles title in Melbourne on Saturday. (AP) Last update - 17:58 26/01/2008 Israeli duo of Ram, Erlich win Australian Open doubles title By Rami Hipsh, Haaretz Correspondent, and News Agencies Tags: Australian Open, Yoni Erlich  The Israeli doubles team of Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich captured the Australian Open men's championship on Saturday, defeating the French duo of Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra, 7-5, 7-6. The victory marks Ram and Erlich's first ever Grand Slam championship and the first time an all-Israeli doubles pair has taken home the crown. Both men will split $400,000 in prize money. The Israeli tandem played solidly throughout. They opened the match by breaking the French serve, capturing the first game of the first set. At 4-2, the match was halted due to rain. Advertisement After the match resumed, the French team roared back, evening the first set at 5 games apiece. Ram and Erlich, however, answered with a break of their own to lock up the first set. Both sides held serve throughout the second set, which necessitated a tiebreaker. The Israelis overcame a 3-1 deficit to rally for a 7-4 victory. Erlich and Ram have won 10 tournaments together and are unbeaten in Davis Cup play since 2005, but it took seven Australian Open appearances for them to reach the final. "We were fighting hard, we were much more hungry I think than Llodra and Clement today," Ram said. "They have a Grand Slam title already, maybe that's why." Ram, who won the 2007 French Open mixed doubles title with Natalie Dechy, said Saturday's title was by far the greater achievement. "We're so happy to be the first Israelis. We made history today," he said. "I'm very happy for both of us. We believed we could win the Grand Slam title. We really believed in this." Erlich and Ram's win comes a day after Shahar Peer became the first Israeli woman to reach a Grand Slam final in the women's doubles. Peer and Belarussian Victoria Azarenka lost to Ukrainian sisters Kateryna and Alona Bondarenko 6-2, 6-4 in the final. "It's big for a small country like Israel to get Shahar Peer in the finals, us winning the title, semifinal of mixed doubles, quarters in mixed. It's big, you know," Ram said. "You don't see U.S.A. in the finals here in this tournament. In a bold move for an Israeli pair, Erlich and Ram are now considering traveling to the United Arab Emirates for the Dubai Tennis Championships. "The ATP will do all they can do to provide us the right security. And if we decide to go, I think it's a big tournament," Ram said. Related articles: Triple delight as Israelis get ready for doubles appearances Shahar Peer advances to women's doubles semifinals Bookmark to del.icio.us   Strip Solidarity More than 1,000 march against the blockade on the Israeli side of the Gaza border. PFLP founder dead George Habash, founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, dies at 81.   1.   YAHOOOOOOOOOOO! 10:07  |  IsraFan 26/01/08   2.   how about that doris cadigan ?were you cheering 10:29  |  v hardman 26/01/08   3.   Haaretz what is a shame to say that Ana Ivanovic is a Serb? Buy 10:51  |  Balcan boy 26/01/08   4.   Good Game - Good Win 11:17  |  Craig 26/01/08   5.   Fantastic! 11:25  |  Mark 26/01/08   6.   Congratulations, Andi and Yoni! hizqu v`imtzu, `alu v`hatzlihu! 11:30  |  Rinah 26/01/08   7.   wwhere are the anti semites congratulations ? 11:37  |  v hardman 26/01/08   8.   Mazl Tov - Viva Israel ! 12:05  |  Diego 26/01/08   9.   Congratulations, after a bad week Israel deserves some good news 13:27  |  Paul Wood 26/01/08   10.   Well done boys!! 16:23  |  Free Gilad Shalit 26/01/08   11.   What a disgrace 16:39  |  Natallie Durson 26/01/08   12.   #11 nutullies best ever stupid post 17:56  |  v hardman 26/01/08   13.   Andy, Yoni, Congratulations From The USA 17:59  |  Peter 26/01/08   14.   Sure Natalie 18:07  |  Zelkha 26/01/08   15.   A test to Hypocrite moslems in dubai 18:11  |  Victor_the_Egyptian 26/01/08   16.   Natalie... 18:15  |  Ryan 26/01/08   17.   #11 Natalie Durson - What an idiot 18:53  |  Yonatan 26/01/08   18.   #11 N.Durson....mmuuahahahaha !!!!! 18:56  |  Franco 26/01/08   19.   For sure you are not a Judge in USA 19:10  |  Victor_The-Egyptian 26/01/08   20.   donate to hamas 19:16  |  mark 26/01/08   21.   Natalie -Get a life and start playing tennis for the PA! 19:21  |  Mark 26/01/08   22.   natlalie for sure you are not a Judge in USA 19:26  |  Victor_The-Egyptian 26/01/08   23.   #11 Natalie Durson 19:30  |  Marco 26/01/08   24.   #11 Natalie Durson, my apologies 19:33  |  Marco 26/01/08   25.   Congrats and thanks Guys! You lifted Israel´s spirits up! 20:11  |  AliciaYasmeen 26/01/08   26.   NATALIE: ask not what others can do but what YOU can do the Pals! 20:13  |  AliciaYasmeen 26/01/08   27.   Congratulations, but the flag waving is stupid in tennis 20:51  |  Mark B. 26/01/08   28.   NATHALIE DURSON 21:07  |  Brauner Herman 26/01/08   29.   Paul Wood # 9 21:59  |  ChanahS 26/01/08   30.   YISRAEL OLAH!!! 22:08  |  yaakov 26/01/08   31.   viva israel 22:27  |  alan 26/01/08   32.   Well done Israel 23:13  |  Esteban 26/01/08   33.   way to go 23:33  |  roberto garcia stern 26/01/08   34.   Natalie Durson 23:48  |  Connie 26/01/08   35.   good day for Israeli sport 00:53  |  schafe82 27/01/08   36.   DURSON: The Pals Wait With Outstretched Hands For Their Fish ... 01:11  |  Lavi 27/01/08

Today Online Israel demands that Egypt restore order at Gaza-Egypt border Responses: 701 Militants who raided yeshiva were recently released criminals Responses: 261 Editorial: The siege of Gaza has failed Responses: 343 U.S. pushes UN to condemn Qassam rocket fire for first time Responses: 347 Richard Silverstein: Seeking liberal Jewish bloggers Responses: 107 Rosner's Domain McCain using support for Israel to court Jews - and Christians Ambassador vs. Ambassador: Is Obama good for Israel? Huckabee: WMD from Iraq is in Jordan (WTR) Poll: How important is Israel in the 2008 election? Factor: Clinton and McCain, head to head More Headlines 23:01 Israel demands that Egypt restore order at Gaza-Egypt border 23:31 Abbas: No talks with Hamas despite Gaza border chaos 00:41 Anti-Semitic incidents rise in Germany, Australia, U.S. in 2007 00:07 Palestinians: PFLP founder George Habash dies at 81 00:11 Umm al-Fahm turns out lights, Israelis rally against Gaza siege 17:01 In remembrance of Holocaust, UN chief Ban says 'never again' 17:58 Israeli duo of Ram, Erlich win Australian Open doubles title 23:34 Palestinian stabs Border Policeman in north Jerusalem attack 20:00 Libya withholds support for UN draft condemning Qassam fire 13:04 Abbas to press Olmert on lifting Gaza blockade, control of crossings Previous Editions Select Day 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 18 jan 17 jan 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan

Special Offers Advertisement Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Teach & Study Program make a difference in Israel FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations SUPER-TUESDAY U.S. PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY U.S. citizen in Israel vote Democrats-Abroad Global Primary online, in-person. Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved