Israel recover to beat SA

● Israel breached South Africa’s Davis Cup fortress in Pretoria yesterday as they fought back from 1-2 down to take the tie 3-2.

Wily Dudi Sela, 32, was his side’s hero. After winning a tough three-setter against Nik Scholtz on Friday night, he was game to team up with Jonathan Erlich, 40, in the doubles.

They went down 7-5 4-6 4-6 to Raven Klaasen and Ruan Roelofse, and then Sela had 30 minutes to get a massage, eat pasta and shower before returning for Lloyd Harris, unbeaten in Cup matches at the Irene country club.

Sela was broken in the opening game. “I started very badly, I was very slow without any energy but slowly, slowly I got into the match,” said Sela, who won 7-6 (2) 6-1.

Harris looked ill — possibly the result of something he’d eaten — but he wasn’t keen to talk about it. “All credit to Dudi … he made my life very difficult out there.”

Even Klaasen struggled with Sela in the doubles match. “Dudi’s a seasoned campaigner and he uses a lot of little tricks to get points on the board, and we felt that too …

“He’s on the line quickly, the ball’s coming at you before you’ve had a chance to settle, but within the limits of the rules.”

Edan Leshem, despite also being broken in the opening game, beat Scholtz 6-3 7-5 in the decider.

SA will play Sweden, Ukraine or Portugal in a playoff for the right to stay in the EuropeAfrica Group I.