Sela sent packing

Dudi Sela lost 6-4, 6-2 to Rainer Schuettler.

By ALLON SINAI
Dudi Sela backhand 311 (photo credit: Associated Press)
Dudi Sela backhand 311
(photo credit: Associated Press)
Dudi Sela was knocked out in the semifinals of the Challenger tournament in Athens on Saturday, losing 6-4, 6-2 to Rainer Schuettler.
The 25-year-old Israeli, ranked No. 70 in the world, has decided to play on the Challenger circuit instead of the main ATP Tour in the coming weeks, avoiding the clay courts he so detests to play on his preferred hard surface.
Next week, Sela will play in a small tournament in Rhodes before returning home for the Israel Open the following week.
Andy Ram’s successful week in Barcelona ended in the semifinals onSaturday, with the Israeli and Julian Knowle losing 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 toNo. 1 seeds Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic.
Meanwhile, Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone won in straight setsSaturday for defending Fed Cup champion Italy, which leads the CzechRepublic 2-0 in the semifinals.
Pennetta defeated Lucie Hradecka 6-4, 7-5, while Schiavone cruised pastLucie Safarova 6-0, 6-2 at the Stadio Nicola Pietrangeli.