Erlich/Clement just miss out on Australian Open semis

"It was heartbreaking because I felt from the start that we were the better team."

By ALLON SINAI
tennis 88 (photo credit: )
tennis 88
(photo credit: )
Yoni Erlich and Arnaud Clemet came heartbreakingly close to the semifinals of the Australian Open on Wednesday, squandering two match points before losing 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (6) to No. 2 seeds Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic.
The Israeli/French duo had a match point in the ninth game of the third set and also led 6-5 in the crucial tiebreaker, only for Nestor and Zimonjic to take three straight points and move into the last four.
"This is a very disappointing defeat," Erlich said. "We had the match in our hands but we couldn't take advantage.
"It was heartbreaking because I felt from the start that we were the better team."
Despite the disappointment, Erlich can be pleased with his overall performance in Melbourne which will see him climb around 90 places from his current world ranking of 190.
"I would have been very happy with reaching the quarterfinals before the start of the tournament, but I'm frustrated now," Erlich said.
Later Wednesday, Andy Ram was knocked out in the quarterfinals of the mixed doubles tournament, ending Israeli participation in Melbourne Park.
Ram and Elena Vesnina lost 6-4, 6-3 to No. 1 seeds Cara Black and Leander Paes.