Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., January 28, 2008 Shvat 21, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:51 (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

Tennis / Ram and Erlich (and Sharapova) arrive today By Nir Wolf Three recently crowned Grand Slam champions will make their way through Ben-Gurion International Airport today after they flew out of Australia yesterday. Two of them, Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich, earned themselves a festive homecoming by capturing the men's doubles title at the 2008 Australian Open. There is no question that this appeared to be the best weekend of their lives. After winning Saturday's final, Ram and Erlich attended a concert by the reunited Police at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and then headed to a neighborhood pub, spending the rest of the night drinking freely. The duo's cellular phones received endless calls and SMS messages congratulating them on their historic Grand Slam victory. Advertisement Yesterday, the party moved to the air as Ram and Erlich boarded a flight to Bangkok along with Maria Sharapova, and from there they headed toward Tel Aviv. This morning, Ram, Erlich and Sharapova will land in Israel. While the two Israelis will bear the full brunt of the Israeli media at a festive ceremony organized by the Israel Tennis Association, the Australian Open women's singles champion will be whisked away through a side exit into a VIP taxi that will bring her to the Daniel Hotel in Herzliya, where Russia's Fed Cup team is staying ahead of its World Group tie against Israel on Saturday and Sunday. Shahar Peer, who is scheduled to face Sharapova in the Fed Cup on Sunday, was already in Israel yesterday. "This will be the first time I play an official match in Israel, and it has been on my mind since Friday," she said. "Sharapova is in excellent shape right now; I have never seen her play at this level before. I hope that the Israelis will drive her a little crazy, because this is the first time she is playing with her national team. "We have nothing to lose, not in the first match and not in the second match. I hope to handle the pressure, because I am not used to playing in a full stadium at home. We are going in as the underdog and we will give it our all." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Kitler Cat Germany's Green Party uses a cat resembling Hitler to criticize extreme rightists. Sorrymania Israel is reportedly planning to apologize to ex-Beatles for banning a concert in 1965.

Today Online Bradley Burston: What if the Hillary haters were right all along? Responses: 138 PM: Delay talks on J'lem to avoid peace process derailment Responses: 123 Report: Chief Rabbi says move Gazans to a Palestine in Sinai Responses: 121 Officials: Israel won't let Gaza border breach threaten security Responses: 71 Obama: Opponents trying to weaken my support among Jews Responses: 70 Haaretz TV: Lavish Israeli Bat Mitzvahs - when excess is best Responses: 18 More Headlines 00:27 Obama: Opponents trying to weaken my support in Jewish community 01:48 IDF worried Lebanon war probe report will damage its image 00:52 Abbas wins int'l backing for PA control at Egypt-Gaza border 21:32 IDF troops kill Palestinian teen, hurt another in Bethlehem raid 01:01 With eye to 60th celebrations, Israel makes amends for 1965 Beatles ban 19:58 Israeli official: Bolton said Rice caved on truce terms to end 2006 Lebanon war 20:10 PM: Delay talks on Jerusalem to avoid derailing peace process 00:55 Olmert: Israel will not ignore any calls for its obliteration 19:26 Sharon's son heads to jail as court nixes corruption appeal 23:13 Mofaz adopts findings of report on B-G Airport flight safety failures 19:06 Unique glass mosaic unveiled after restoration in Caesarea 18:21 Report: Chief Rabbi says move Gazans to a Palestine in Sinai 19:03 Lieberman: Egypt is lying to Israel and working against our interests 00:59 U.S. envoy begins mission to monitor compliance with road map Previous Editions Select Day 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 18 jan 17 jan 16 jan 15 jan

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