Local Tennis: Erlich out for Peru tie in Davis Cup action

Erlich announces that due to an elbow injury he will not be able to team-up with Andy Ram in Saturday's doubles match.

By ALLON SINAI
Ram Erlich 88 224 (photo credit: )
Ram Erlich 88 224
(photo credit: )
Israel's Davis Cup team will have to manage without Yoni Erlich in this weekend's tie against Peru at Ramat Hasharon. The doubles specialist announced on Wednesday that due to an elbow injury he will not be able to team-up with Andy Ram in Saturday's doubles match. "This is one of the toughest decisions I've had to make in my career," Erlich said. "I decided that there's no point in playing if I can only give 30 percent and not 100% like I'm used to. That would simply be irresponsible of me." In Erlich's absence, Israel captain Eyal Ran has decided to play Noam Okun with Ram in the doubles and Dudi Sela and Harel Levy in the singles matches. "Erlich's injury is a big blow for us, but I believe in my players," Ram said. "We have a team which will do all it can to defeat Peru, despite Erlich's injury, and maintain its place among the world's top 16." Ehrlich and Ram, of course, are the first and thusfar only Israelis to win a Grand Slam title, having captured the Australian Open doubles tournament earlier this year. Playing for Israel in the Davis Cup in 2000 and from 2002-07, he has won 11 of his 15 matches, including wins in Israel's 2006 3-2 win over Great Britain, 2007's 5-0 win over Luxembourg and 3-2 wins over Italy and Chile.