Kratsev: "Playing in front of the Israeli crowd will be something special for me" | Israel today

Just before the opening of the ATP250 WATERGEN OPEN tournament, in the 'Expo' hall, in Tel Aviv, the main tournament draw was held today (Sunday). 

Ranked first in the tournament and seventh in the tournament, the Serbian Novak Djokovic, the big star who came to the tournament, automatically advanced to the round of 16 where he awaits the winner in the meeting between the Brazilian Thiago Monteiro (66 in the world), and the Spaniard Pablo Andojar (117).

Yishai Oliel, who received a free ticket to the tournament and is ranked 381st in the world, will start against the German Petar Goivcik (158th in the world), while the Croatian Marin Cilic, ranked second in the tournament and 16th in the world, will also start directly in the final eight.

Novak Djokovic.

Made it to the round of 16 in Tel Aviv, photo: AP

"I feel really good, I had good training" said Oliel before his match.

"I will fight and thank everyone who gave me the opportunity to play in the main draw. I have a little pressure but it will be good for me, I hope I will answer from this moment which is going to be the best of my career."

The Russian Aslan Kratsev, who grew up in Israel, said: "To come back here to Israel to play in front of the Israeli crowd, my whole childhood was here in Israel, it will be something special", about Ehrlich in his last tournament: "He will play here at home and that is the most important thing, he is a special player, when I was little I saw him in Ramat Hasharon. I wish him success in the future."

Yishai Oliel.

Received a free ticket to the tournament, photo: Oren Aharoni

The president of the tournament OPEN WATERGEN AVIV TEL Dr. Michael Mirilshvili "It's great fun to have such a tournament in Tel Aviv, we are excited and I am sure that this tournament will be a success, I congratulate Dominic Timm I follow him and congratulate the Israeli players, there is a passion here to see the players and I believe that next year This tournament will be much bigger.

We thank ATP for believing in us and hope not to disappoint them.

Have a successful tournament."

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