Tennis / Israel vs. Peru Davis Cup Encounter / Locals focus on remaining in top tier

So who does Dudi Sela, Israel's top-ranking male tennis player, think will win the Davis Cup encounter between Israel and Peru in the leafy Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Hasharon this coming weekend? "Honestly, I haven't got a clear answer to that," he says.

Sela, who at one point threatened not to participate in the Davis Cup because he was angry at his exclusion from Israel's delegation to the Olympics, laments that the encounter wasn't held a few months ago, when he says the team "was in much better shape."

Ready or not, Israel will be fighting with Peru for survival in the top tier of the Davis Cup this weekend. Israel's tennis players are currently in a rut: Sela crashed to the 91st spot in the world rankings; Yoni Erlich is injured and his doubles teammate Andy Ram still hasn't recovered from his debacle at the Olympics.

"There's this crazy anti-climax," Ram said. "Everything revolved around Beijing, it was our stated goal. Then we showed up and played well, but it ended after one match."

Much of the Israeli team's hopes rely on the famously loud crowds that cheer them on at matches held in Ramat Hasharon, giving them a home advantage.

Israel's other Davis Cup players, Harel Levy and Noam Okun, still don't know which of them will represent Israel. Captain Eyal Ran will inform them of his decision only today. Levy, who is the favorite to be selected, promised yesterday not to repeat his meltdown against Sweden in a previous Davis Cup encounter.

Peru's players toured the Ramat Hasharon facilities yesterday, trying to adjust to the Middle Eastern heat while wearing the long-sleeved track suits that their sponsors, Cusquena beer, requires them to wear.

Luis Horna, Peru's top tennis player, is currently ranked 107 in the world having reached a career high of 33 four years ago. "Israel has an excellent doubles team and Dudi Sela is very talented," Horna said during a press conference. "In my opinion he can be among the world's top 50."

Later on, Horna complained about the weather. "What heat! Yesterday someone turned off the air-conditioning at our hotel. Do you think he did that on purpose?"

Peer freefall continues in Tokyo

Meanwhile, Israel's top female tennis player Shahar Peer continued her career nosedive as she crashed out of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in the first round, losing 6-4, 6-4 to Italian Flavia Pennetta.

Peer has had perhaps the worst year of her career since she turned pro, and has changed a number of coaches over the past few months