Spectator Reaction Enlivens Israeli Tennis Tournaments

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31830, 7 November 1968, Page 13

Spectator Reaction Enlivens Israeli Tennis Tournaments

(From R N FAWKES, a member of the New Zealand Davis Cup team) For the last month I have been playing in tournaments in Israel, made most enjoyable by perfect weather and interesting sightseeing trips arranged by the Israeli Lawn Tennis Association One thing which surprised me was the apparent lack of concern by everyone about the situation with the neighbouring hostile Arab countries. RHODESIANS WIN The first tournament was held at the popular holiday resort of Natania. Here Hank Irvine, the Rhodesian Davis Cup player who will be playing in New Zealand later this [year, showed outstanding form j to take the men's title from quite a strong field. He beat, in order, lan Fletcher, of Australia, Elazar Davidman, the Israeli number one, and Sergio Palmieri, the Italian number one. In the final against Palmieri he was in devastating form, winning for the loss of only four games: I lost to the Austrian number one, Peter Pokorny, in a close three-setter. In the, doubles Irvine and I suffered our first loss for more than six weeks when we were defeated in the final in a good match by the top seeds, Fletcher and Terry Addison, both of Australia. LONG RALLIES The women's final was of interest, if not for the standard of play, then for the length of the rallies and the. reaction of the spectators. Although Almut Sturm, of West Germany, beat the Belgian number one, Ingrid Loeys, 6-3, 64, the match lasted for more than two hours with one rally at least of more than 100 shots. Not only was there a distracting game of men’s basketball going on behind the court but the girls had to put up with people walking behind the court during rallies, spectators shouting at the umpire and counting aloud the number of shots in a rally, and ironical cheers [at the end of a rally. The , two players showed remarkable concentration in trying I circumstances. ISRAELI TITLES The next tournament was j the Israeli national championI ships in Tel Aviv. West Germany had sent a representa- ■ tive team to take part in the tournament and. although inI cidents were feared, none eventuated.

The unseeded Rumanian Davis Cup player, Petre Marmareanu, caused an early upset by ousting the thirdseeded Irvine in a close match. Marmareanu, however, was to prove the success of the tournament, going on to

win the title by beating the top-seeded Nicki Kalogeropoulos, of Greece, in the final. I lost in the third round to the fourth-seeded Fletcher. The most dramatic singles match of the tournament was between Davidman and Kalogeropoulos in the semi-finals. Kalogeropoulos recovered from 0-2 down, to win in five sets.

Not only were there some amazing line decisions but the players had to contend with much noise from the partisan spectators as well as some noisy barracking from a group of youths watching the game from one of the tall apartment buildings overlooking the courts. LOST HIS TEMPER

Finally, in exasperation, on match point, the normally imperturbable Kalogeropoulos on hearing loud cheers as he served a fault on his first service, turned round and slammed the second ball high into the window where the youths were gathered, smashing the light inside. This outstanding piece of accuracy drew much mirth and prolonged applause from the paying spectators.

In the doubles Irvine and I caused a major upset by easily beating the top seeds, Davidman and Kalogeropoulos, in the semi-finals, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3. I had one of my best

games in this match and on several occasions volleyed full-blooded smashes from an opponent for winners, to the delight of the spectators. In the final, however, the German national champions, Plotz and Pohmann proved too good for us and won, 6-8, 10-8, 6-4, 6-2. Lost chances In the long second set contributed to our downfall. JERUSALEM INCIDENTS The final tournament in Israel was held in Jerusalem. In the quarter-finals I beat the South African number five, Jackie Saul, whose tenacious play on hard courts has enabled him to record victories over several of the world’s leading players. However, in the semi-finals I found the in-form Marmareanu too good for me and he

went on to win the tournament.

Our match was not without incident. After a series of bad calls had threatened to disrupt the match, play was held up for several minutes on set point in the first set as the umpire argued with several of the spectators. In the doubles, Marareanu and I lost in the final to Davidman and Saul. Irvine was unable to play in Jerusalem because he had to return home to Rhodesia.