Status: ATP #63 rank. Defeated Andy Roddick Queens Club in London today 64 76. Member of Israel’s Davis Cup team. Has career wins over Roddick, Ferrer, Gonzalez, Srichaphan, Del Potro, Robredo, Youzhny, Bjorkman, Ginepri, Kiefer. Highest ATP singles rank was #29 in July 2009.
Ht: 5-9 Wt: 147
DOB: April 4, 1985 In: Kiryat Shmona, Israel
Tennis Inspirations: “Amos Mansdorf from Israel. I saw him when I was young, playing Davis Cup. I spent many hours studying tapes of Mansdorf.”
First Tennis Memory: “Playing with my brother (Ofer) at home.”
Nicknames: “My nickname? Dude [smiles].”
Hobbies/Interests: “Soccer. Mainly soccer.”
Favorite Movie: “Hangover [laughs].”
Last Book Read: “Israeli.”
Musical Tastes: “Anything, rap, rock, Israeli music, U2, Yael Golan.”
Pre-Match Feeling: “Think about who I’m playing, which tactics I’m gonna play against the same player.”
Favorite Meal: “Chicken schnitzel with mashed potato.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”
Current Car: “Audi (gray).”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Winning in Davis Cup in Israel against Chile (d. #7 Gonzalez 46 76 57 76 63 in 5:01 to lift Israel into Davis Cup World Group for 2008).”
Most Painful Moment: “Losing in Davis Cup against Sweden (lost to Thomas Johansson).”
Closest Tennis Friend(s): “Marcos Baghdatis.”
Funniest Players Encountered: “Marcos Baghdatis [laughs]. Very funny, open guy. I know him since we are 12-years-old, so.”
Toughest Competitors: “Federer, no doubt [smiles].”
Funny Tennis Memory: “Fighting on court when I was 14 [smiles], in a tournament in Israel. (Actual punches?) Yeah, punches, everything, all the way [laughs]. (How did it start?) Long story. (Did you win match?) No, it was stopped. It was in the middle of the match.”
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Where did I lose badly somewhere [smiles]…maybe two years ago here in Washington I played Del Potro, it was 15 minutes – 6-0 first set.”
Favorite Players To Watch: “Federer is nice to watch. Back then it was Guga. Gaudio. Soderling I like to watch, he hits the ball clean.”
Your Finest Performance: “Maybe against Robredo at the tournament in Beijing (2008). It was 64 60, I played really well.”
Last Vacation: “Eilat in Israel.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “Kindness.”
Meet the Davis Cup hero who stunned A-Rod at Queens Club today
Dan Markowitz · June 11, 2010 at 12:37 am
Amazing win by the Dude-man. Doesn’t bode well for Roddick. He’s played a total of three matches since winning Miami. He’s got to get more successful match play in on grass, but doubt he’ll play tournament week before Wimbledon.