By ALLON SINAI
Tzipi Obziler was appointed as Israel’s new Fed Cup captain on Friday, replacing Amos Mansdorf, who leaves the post after three years in charge.The 42-year-old, regarded as one of Israel’s all-time greatest players, retired six years ago after a remarkable 21-year playing career.Mansdorf, who will continue coaching Israel’s juniors, couldn’t lead the national team back to the Fed Cup World Group II playoffs, in which it last played in 2009 in what was Obziler’s final appearance for the team.Obziler only made her breakthrough in her mid-30’s, entering the top-100 for the first time in her career in 2007 before reaching a career-best ranking of number 75. That same year, Obziler also played a key role in helping Israel’s Fed Cup team to the World Group for the first time, which includes only the world’s top eight nations.Israel will host next year’s Europe/Africa Zone Group I matches in Eilat, which also hosted the tournament between 2011 and 2013. Great Britain, Croatia and Belgium are among the 14 teams that will play in Eilat next year for two places in the playoffs.
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