Dekel Valtzer completed one of the best three-week periods of his career on Saturday, winning both singles and doubles titles.
By JPOST SPORTS STAFFtennis 88(photo credit: )
Dekel Valtzer completed one of the best three-week periods of his young career on Saturday in winning both the singles and doubles titles at the Joyce Eisenberg futures in Haifa. Valtzer, 21, defeated countryman Ishay Hadash 6-1, 6-2 in the singles final.
He then claimed the doubles crown after teaming with Amir Weintraub to top Alexei Milner of Israel and Russia's Sergei Krotiouk 6-1, 6-4.
Over the course of the three weeks of futures, Valtzer registered a semifinals and final appearance before finally winning the trophy. He takes home $1,300 in winnings and will continue to shoot up in the world rankings from his current post of 588.
France's Diana Brunel claimed the women's title of the Marjorie Sherman futures by stopping Linda Smolenakova of Slovakia 6-3, 6-3 in the final.
On Friday Shahar Pe'er advanced to the third round of the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California, by defeating Switzerland's Emmanuelle Gagliardi 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-2. The match was the first of the tournament for the 21st seeded Israeli, who received a first-round bye. She will face Eleni Daniilidou of Greece in the third round.
Anna Smashnova was to complete her second-round match against Slovakian Martina Sucha on Saturday after taking a 6-2, 2-1 lead before rain stopped play on Friday.
Also at the tournament are the doubles pair of Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich, who will open against singles star Rafael Nadal of Spain and Russia's Mikhail Youzhny.
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