Ran resigns (again) after latest Davis Cup debacle

TENNIS EYAL Ran has stepped down as captain of Israel’s Davis Cup team after the 5-0 defeat against Ukraine.

Ran said it was the “right time to hand over the reins” after Israel were whitewashed in the Europe Group A match in Ramat Hasharon.

“Over the past 12 years, I’ve led the team, including to the Davis Cup World Group semi-finals,” said Ran. “It was once a team that everybody wanted and dreamed of being a part of.”

Israel succumbed tamely to Ukraine with Dudi Sela (75) losing to Illya Marchenko (287) and Alerxandr Dolgopolov (52) defeating Edan Leshem (291) in the opening singles matches. Sergiy Stakhovsky and Denis Molchanov clinched victory for the visitors beating Jonathan Erlich and Sela leaving Israel to suffer their first home whitewash since 1975.

This is not the first time Ran has resigned. On an earlier occasion he was persuaded to reverse his decision but it is thought unlikely he will do so now.

The resounding defeat came as no surprise to Israeli no. 1 Sela, who criticised the Israel Tennis Association on the eve of the tie.

“There is almost no tennis in Israel,” said Sela. “It has become an amateur pastime. We are in our worst position for decades.”

Israel are scheduled to host Romania in a relegation playoff next month — a contest they will start as favourites against a nation with only one player in the top 400.

However, the ITA are reportedly in the midst of a financial crisis and there is speculation they could waive the right to play at home and travel to Romania in order to save expenses.