ISRAEL: TENNIS - Israel gives warm welcome to Australian Open men's doubles title winners Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich

Record ID: 397084

  • Title: ISRAEL: TENNIS - Israel gives warm welcome to Australian Open men's doubles title winners Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich
  • Date: 29th January 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) YONI ERLICH SAYING: "It cannot get better than this I think, you can see all that is going on here, you know we were waiting all our career for this. I don't know how many journalists are here but the support that we get, the warm welcome, it's something amazing that we were waiting all our lives for that and we really appreciate it and we even try to
  • Embargoed: 13th February 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA5463FHLHKQ22CM85KYN31XMAT
  • Story Text: Israel's Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich who won the men's doubles title at the Australian Open return home to warm welcome.
    Israel gave a warm welcome on Monday (January 28) to Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich after the pair put Israel on the Grand Slam map by winning the men's doubles title at the Australian Open.
    Erlich and Ram beat Frenchmen Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra 7-5 7-6 on Saturday to become the first Israeli pair to win a Grand Slam title.
    At a welcome ceremony at Israel's Ben Gurion airport the victorious pair thanked their supporters, training team and even the Israeli press. They vowed to fight for further titles, including an Olympic medal in Beijing in August.
    "It cannot get better than this I think, you can see all that is going on here, you know we were waiting our whole career for this. I don't know how many journalists are here but the support that we get, the warm welcome, its something amazing that we were waiting (for) all our lives for that and we really appreciate it and we even try to give back more when we know the support and the feedback is so good we all try to do even harder to bring some more achievements to Israel," said Erlich.
    "After Beijing we come back and this is our plan to keep playing tournaments, keep doing what we are doing best, doing great results, bringing success, happiness, for us, for our families, for the country, for everybody," added Ram.
    Ram said he and Erlich had received messages of congratulations from all over Israel, including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
    As the news conference ended the two poured champagne over each other and jumped, together with their trainer, in celebration.
    The victory more than made amends for the defeat in Friday's women's doubles final for their compatriot Shahar Pe'er who was partnered by Belarussian Victoria Azarenka.
    Pe'er, the women's world number 17, plans to compete in the February 18-24 Qatar Open, which would make her the first Israeli to play a tour event in the Gulf region.
    Pe'er told Reuters last week tournament officials reassured her that she will be safe in Doha and Ram said the ATP was working to give them the same assurances.
    Ram said Pe'er's decision to go to Doha had inspired them to consider playing in Dubai from March 3-8, despite the heightened tensions between Israel and its neighbouring Muslim countries.
    The pair said they are currently exploring the possibility of getting a visa to enter the region.
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