JERUSALEM (AP) -Israel looks to qualify for its first Davis Cup semifinal against a strong Russian team this weekend.
Russia, which reached the semifinals the last four years, will be the favorite even without 11th-ranked Nikolay Davydenko. The team will be led by 24th-ranked Igor Andreev and Marat Safin at the Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv, where some 11,000 fans are expected.
Israel qualified for the quarterfinals by upsetting Sweden in March against a backdrop of anti-Israel protests following a military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli team will be anchored by Dudi Sela, whose ranking improved 13 places to No. 33 after reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon last week. Also playing are the doubles tandem of Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich, who captured Israel's only Grand Slam victory at the 2008 Australian Open.
"I think we will give the team the point it needs from the doubles match," Ram said. "We can't wait to start and play."
Israel made it to the quarterfinals once, in 1987, when the team was swept 4-0 by India in New Delhi.
