Israel’s dream of returning to the World Group was already dashed for another year on Saturday when the blue-and-white dropped to an unassailable 3-0 deficit.
By ALLON SINAIIsrael’s Yshai Oliel won just two games in yesterday’s defeat to Portugal’s Pedro Sousa in Davis Cup Group I action in Lisbon. (photo credit: ALEX GOLDENSTEIN/ISRAEL TENNIS ASSOCIATION)
Israeli youngsters Yshai Oliel and Daniel Cukierman received humbling lessons in Davis Cup tennis on Sunday, winning just two games each on the way to defeats which sent Israel to a 5-0 loss to Portugal in Group I action in Lisbon.Israel’s dream of returning to the World Group was already dashed for another year on Saturday when the blue-and-white dropped to an unassailable 3-0 deficit.With nothing to play for, captain Eyal Ran chose to give the team’s youngsters an opportunity to gain experience on Sunday.Cukierman, ranked No. 528 in the world, will not want to remember much from his Davis Cup debut, losing 6-2, 6-0 to Frederico Ferreira Silva (363) in just 57 minutes.After winning just four games in Friday’s defeat to world No. 41 Joao Sousa, 17-year-old Yshai Oliel (928) dropped to a 6-2, 6-0 loss to Pedro Sousa (192).Oliel received the unexpected call up to the team due to Amir Weintraub’s shoulder injury, while Cukierman replaced Dudi Sela on Sunday.Israel was hoping to claim the first of the three wins it needed in 2017 to return to the World Group for the first time since 2013. But it will instead need to fight for its life in Group I for a third straight year.
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