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Israeli tennis players Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich had a sterling victory in the men’s doubles segment of the Australian Open tennis tournament. Ram and Erlich, immediately celebrated their 7-5,7-6 finals victory over Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement by lifting each other in the air in the pandemonium that ensued following the conclusion of the final set. Their victory as the first for Israeli players in this tournament that marks the beginning of the 2008 Grand Slam tennis tournament season.

Ram, who won a similar victory in the mixed doubles segment of the Roland Garros (French Open) tournament last June, said afterwards that “this is an unbelievable moment, a great, great moment for us” . Yoni, his partner, joined in by saying that he had watched grand slam tournaments as a boy but never believed he would ever be in one – let alone win it. The two Israeli stars accomplished what to many seems like the impossible by never losing a set during the entire tournament.

The men’s doubles win follows on the heels of Israel female star Shahar Peer and her doubles partner Victoria Azarenka placing second in their finals match against the Bondarenko sisters Kathryna and Alona in a disappointing three set match that ended 2-6, 6-1, 6-4. “We mad e lot of silly mistakes that shouldn’t have happened in a Grand Slam tournament, Shahar said afterwards. Still, her second place showing isn’t a bad way to start the tournament season.

Rams’ victory comes after being knocked out of the third round of the mixed doubles part of the tournament. His victory with Erlich is sure to raise bother their international rankings, along with Shahar’s second place win (she is currently ranked 17th).

Ram credited a strong wining attitude and careful concentration for their victory, saying that “we played every ball as if it were a ‘match point’. The good showing of both Israeli male and female tennis stars indicate that Israeli tennis is definitely on the way up, and we should all look forward to some fine performances by plays like Ron, Yoni, and Shahar in the coming months. Word also has it that world women’s tennis star Maria Sharapanova is on her way to Israel to play against Shahar Peer and others in a local tournament. That should be one well worth watching, since Sharapanova won the women’s singles championship of the Australian Open over such rivals as Belgian ace Justin Henin and Americans Serena and Venus Williams.