Tennis: Israel defeats Denmark to finish ninth

Fed Cup captain Lior Mor is looking forward to a better future for his team after seeing it finish its Europe/Africa Zone Group I campaign.

By ALLON SINAI
tennis (photo credit: AP)
tennis
(photo credit: AP)
Israel’s Fed Cup captain Lior Mor is looking forward to a better future for his team after seeing it finish its Europe/Africa Zone Group I campaign in ninth position on Saturday following a 2-1 victory over Denmark in Estoril, Portugal.
The national team entered the weekend with no chance of reaching the World Group II playoffs after losing all hope of coming first in Group A.
Matters were made worse with a 3-0 loss to the Netherlands on Friday, sending the side to compete for its honor in the ninth to 12 place playoffs after finishing third in the group.
Mor’s team did at least end the campaign on a high by beating Denmark and the captain is hopeful his players will have learned from their experience in Portugal over the past four days.
“I hope this campaign will teach the players a lesson and give them the knowledge needed to do better next year,” he said.
With Shahar Pe’er, No. 22 in the world, and Caroline Wozniacki (3) rested for Saturday’s singles matches, Israel’s and Denmark’s youngsters were given a chance to prove their worth.
Keren Shlomo (390) lost 6-4, 6-4 to unranked 17-year-old Mai Grage, but Julia Glushko (314) tied the score after Malou Ejdesgaard (1024) retired when trailing 6-4, 1-0. 
Glushko then teamed-up with Pe’er in the doubles and the duo thrashed Grage and Ejdesgaard 6-0, 6-1 to clinch the tie.
Against the Netherlands on Friday, Glushko lost to Chayenne Ewijk (397) and a fatigued Pe’er suffered a surprise defeat to Arantxa Rus (117).
The team was whitewashed after Glushko and Chen Astrogo fell in the doubles.
“It is important to remember that this is a new team and we are trying to fill the big void left by Tzipi Obziler’s retirement,” Mor said.
“We achieved our main goal of remaining in Zone Group I and this is where we belong.”