Sela booked his place in the main draw, defeating Chilean Adrian Garcia 6-0, 6-1 in the third qualifying round.
By ALLON SINAIDudi Sela 298.88(photo credit: AP)
Dudi Sela booked his place in the main draw of the US Open late Saturday night, defeating Chilean Adrian Garcia 6-0, 6-1 in the third qualifying round at Flushing Meadows, New York.
The 22-year-old Israeli, who is currently ranked at a career best No. 118 in the world, will play Ecuadorian Nicolas Lapentti (80) in the first round.
Sela needed a third set tiebreak to get the better of Nathan Healy in the first round of qualifying, but dispensed with Ryler De Heart in straight sets in the next round and lost just one game against Garcia (145) on Saturday. Sela joins fellow Israelis Shahar Pe'er, Tzipi Obziler, Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich at 2007's final Grand Slam, which gets underway on Monday.
The match against Lapentti will be Sela's fourth ever in a Grand Slam event. At the 2005 French Open he was outclassed by Roger Federer in the first round, but at this year's Australian Open Sela defeated Paradorn Srichaphan in the first round before losing a five set thriller to Marat Safin.
Tzipi Obziler will be the only Israeli to play in the opening day of the US Open on Monday. The 34-year-old will play Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the first round. Shahar Pe'er will play her first round match later in the week against American Meilen Tu.
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