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willoughby · 09-16-2012, 08:50 AM

Kei won 63 36 46 64 75

Highly entertaining match. Good luck to Soeda now. He already lost the decisive rubber against Croatia this year. Hopefully it won't be the same today!

Sombrerero loco · 09-16-2012, 09:25 AM

told ya kei would play and save this tie. no one trusted me though

Dead Net Cord · 09-16-2012, 09:57 AM

Weintraub - Soeda 6/3

Soeda looks like he's going to squander Kei's win.

willoughby · 09-16-2012, 10:20 AM

Soeda is screwing it up. Blows a 0-40 on return and then gets broken in the next game. 3-6 2-3*

How can Weintraub be ranked 223 btw? He's playing awesome tennis this weekend.

Dead Net Cord · 09-16-2012, 01:14 PM

Weintraub def. Soeda 6/3 7/6(5) 4/6 6/3
Soeda couldn't deal with the pressure.

Israel 3:2 Japan

Guy_American · 09-16-2012, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willoughby

How can Weintraub be ranked 223 btw? He's playing awesome tennis this weekend.

Yeah, I was surprised by his level too! I was 100% sure that if Soeda won match against Sela, then he will make it easy over Weintraub. I was wrong

TalTennis · 09-16-2012, 03:11 PM

Wow, what an amazing win! I couldn't believe my eyes!
Did it ever happen that a player ranked as low as Weintraub won two live rubbers in a world group playoff?
i think this is Israel's most surprising davis cup win ever. More than Chile 2006 and Russia 2009. Those were at home, with Israeli players in good form and one of the best doubles teams in the world. This one was an away tie, against a much better team on paper, with all of Israel's players in bad form in the circuit and Japan's tennis having its best year.
I'm still in shock we won this, Israel is such a davis cup over-achiever. The greatest team Israel has ever had in any sport.

TalTennis · 09-16-2012, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willoughby

How can Weintraub be ranked 223 btw? He's playing awesome tennis this weekend.

He lacks a lot in his game. Not good enough forehand, bad volley, some bad shot selection and lack of variety, reaction not quick enough, and big lack in speed.
But this weekend he had the biggest heart...

nole_no1 · 09-16-2012, 03:39 PM

Japan would've won this if Nishikori would've played against Weintraub. But i don't want to get anything away from the israelians especially from Weintraub who probably had the week of his life. Congrats

appleGirl · 09-16-2012, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willoughby

Soeda is screwing it up. Blows a 0-40 on return and then gets broken in the next game. 3-6 2-3*

How can Weintraub be ranked 223 btw? He's playing awesome tennis this weekend.

The answer is simple - no coach/physio/team to support him. When he's on tour he has to travel alone. This is 90% of what stops him from... top 100, I guess is his potential level.

TalTennis · 10-03-2012, 08:59 AM

Not really an excuse, it's pretty much the situation with all the players ranked around where he is. Still some break out while others don't.
This year in particular he is being practically endorsed by Shlomo Tzoref (non-Israelis may not know him, but he is a top veteran tennis coach in Israel), he has a clothing sponsor and an equipment sponsor, he plays WTT and gets payment and coach/medical package when he's there. In addition to that, the amount of future tournaments in Israel has grown considerably (12 this year, 15 next year) so he has more opportunities to play relatively easy tournaments at home, get some easy ranking points and save on expenses.

Now, what's left is to win games on the tour. Like I said, there are many lacks in his game, and at age 26 bad habits are harder to shake than at age 16. I hope for the best for him, he is now a Davis Cup hero with amazing accomplishments now. But please - now win games on the tour instead of whining...