Israel Tennis Results - All in one place!

*** This article is based upon a Hebrew article that can be found here. It has been translated and adapted (with permission from the author) by Israel Tennis Results.

Remember that about a week ago we told you about Valeria Patiuk being denied a visa to Venezuela to play at the Copa Gatorade tournament ?

Well, good news everybody. Valeria and her coach, Asaf Yamin, finally got the visa and landed in Venezuela yesterday in order to take part in the G1 event.

Being the 4th seed, Patiuk got a 1st round BYE and will face Colombian Daniela Pedraza Novak in the 2nd round.

Patiuk and Yamin at the 2012 U.S Open       Credit: Israel Tennis Association

As we've reported earlier, for the past 3 months Patiuk's team (and mainly her coach) has been making various elaborate attempts to acquire a visa to Venezuela, a country that severed its diplomatic relations with Israel for political reasons.

These attempts to get a visa continued throughout last week, while Patiuk was playing a similar event at the Copa Del Cafe in Costa Rica. She was seeded 7th and made the Quarter-final where she lost in 3 hard-fought sets to the 4th seed.

It should be stated that G1 is the highest category of events after junior slams. Success at this level can help a player climb up the junior rankings and thus secure main draw spots in all slam-level events.

Media Exposure Helps Achieve The Breakthrough

As time was running out, it was clear that a special effort needs to be made in order to receive the long awaited visa in time to enter the competition.

The ITR team took it upon itself (in cooperation with Let, Second Serve) to translate a local article about the affair and spread the word across the tennis media world.

Many journalists, bloggers, pundits and tennis fans from around the world helped make Patiuk's voice heard - be it articles, blog posts, column mentions, RT's etc.

As a result, the ITF finally applied some well-belated pressure and tennis officials from the Venezuelan tennis association and the tournament itself intervened.

Also, high ranking Israeli tennis officials such as Dani Gali (CEO of the Israel Tennis Centers) and Dedi Hernik (President of the Israeli tennis association and a member of the ITF's juniors board) pulled some personal strings.

Last Monday (January 7th), Patiuk and Yamin sat down for a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with the Venezuelan embassador to Costa Rica at her private quarters, after the embassy was already closed to visitors.

Yamin stated that "It was a long and exhausting day, the embassador is an amazing woman who did everything in her power to help us get the visa. Though nothing came from Caracas, luckily for us she met with us in person and took care of us. We were treated warm heartedly and the hospitality was just amazing. Now we can concentrate on the tennis."

Patiuk added that "Where there is a will there is a way". Seems like the right attitude for a young athlete.

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On a personal note, the ITR team would like to thank all of our friends, colleagues, followers and complete strangers who helped keep our beloved sport of tennis free of politics.

You've all made a difference.

Patiuk and Yamin sharing a laugh      Credit: Israel Tennis Centers

*** This article was originally written in Hebrew and can be found here. It has been translated and adapted (with permission from the author) by Israel Tennis Results. The ITR team would also like to acknowledge the contribution of Let, Second Serve to this post.

3 years ago the tennis world was stirred when Shahar Peer did not receive a visa from the Dubai emirate in order to play in the WTA Premier event held there every year - despite having the required ranking for a main draw slot.

The WTA tour fined the tournament, Peer was compensated and leading tennis players like Venus Williams and Andy Roddick publicly protested the controversial decision. Roddick even withdrew from the Men's event that year.

Now, politics are mixed with sports and athletes are getting hurt yet again, even though this time a top player is not involved but a 16.5 year-old Israeli Fed Cup player, Valeria Patiuk.

For the past 3 months, Patiuk has been trying to receive an entry visa for Venezuela in order to compete in a G1 Juniors tournament. However, the South-American country refuses to issue Patiuk a visa and in doing so, prevents her from competing in the prestigious event which offers plenty of ranking points.

Patiuk was slated to be the 3rd seed in this high-level event, the highest category of events after Junior slams. Success there could have helped her climb up the junior rankings and thus secure main draw spots in all slam-level events.

Patiuk in action.       Credit: Israel Tennis Centers

Though usually based in Ramat HaSharon tennis center, Patiuk is currently in Costa Rica with her coach Assaf Yamin - attending a similar G1 event (where she is seeded 7th and currently made the quarter-final round). The two have been exchanging dozens of e-mails with all the relevant officials for the last 3 months.

Lately Patiuk visited the Venezuelan embassy in Costa Rica, where she submitted an official invitation letter from the Venezuelan tennis association. However, all of the efforts were to no avail as no reply was ever sent from the embassy. 

Patiuk stated, "It is sad for me that I am not able to compete in such an important tournament due to political reasons. The main purpose of sports is to bring athletes together without regard to religion, race or gender and I am deeply sorrowed  that I am denied from playing because of my Israeli nationality".

Yamin (Patiuk's coach) described the development of events "We tried to get the visa while being in Israel but we were told to do it through a third country due to the termination of international relations between Venezuela and Israel. We arrived at the Venezuelan embassy in Costa Rica with all the relevant papers we were told to bring in advance - certificates from the police, bank account verifications, letters from the Israeli tennis association, from the Venezuelan tennis association, from the ITF and from the tournament director".

Yamin added that "Due to the lack of time, we asked the Venezuelan tennis association to contact the embassy in Costa Rica in order to hasten the proceedings so the visa could be issued on time. A tournament official contacted the embassy but when we got there, they were waiting for us with ridiculous replies and didn't even bother to look at all the documents we prepared for them. Suddenly they told us we could only apply for a visa in Israel, even though they have no diplomatic delegation or contingent there".

"What astounds me is that I know of many Israelis who receive visas to Venezuela through a third country but because this is an official sports delegation they're making it difficult for us. Unfortunately, the ITF is not putting enough pressure on them because if you sanction an international tournament in Venezuela, the host country should make sure that every tennis player can compete there without prejudice".

(end of original article)

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It seems as if all that has been said by Valeria Patiuk really is the essence and moral of the story - That sports in general and tennis in particular are supposed to bridge gaps and dissolve boundaries, not the other way around.

It is a rueful day for the international tennis community when young athletes and their dreams are used as pawns by politicians in order to make some distorted political gain.

It becomes even worse when a strong governing body like the ITF allows this to transpire right under its nose.  You'd expect the ITF to put its full weight and influence behind one of its members.

John Stuart Mill once said that "Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing".

Well, there's something definitely rotten in the State of Venezuela, and no one seems to be doing anything about it.

I'll leave you with one last piece of information - with all that took place in Dubai in 2009 and all that followed - in 2012 the tournament organizers made an almost 180 degree turn in their attitude towards Shahar Peer, offering her a WC to the main draw so she didn't have to play the qualification round due to her ranking. Dubai's tournament director even had some nice things to say about Peer. This only comes to show that things can be done differently.

Your move, Venezuela. Your move, ITF.

Patiuk with local kids in Lagos, Nigeria.   Credit: Israel Tennis Centers

Zuzana Luknarova (SVK) / Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK) defeated Valeria Patiuk (ISR) / Melis Sezer (TUR) (WC) 6-2 6-4.

Lyudmyla Kichenok (UKR) / Nadiya Kichenok (UKR) (1) defeated Deniz Khazaniuk (ISR) / Linda Mair (ITA) 6-1 6-2.

Valeria Patiuk (ISR) / Melis Sezer (TUR) (WC) defeated Irina Buryachok (UKR) / Ilona Kremen (BLR) (2) 1-6 7-5 [10-6].

Patiuk and Sezer will play in the doubles semifinal against Zuzana Luknarova (SVK) / Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK).

Anastasia Meglinskaya (RUS) / Alexandra Romanova (RUS) defeated Keren Shlomo (ISR) / Jasmin Steinherr (GER) (4) 3-6 6-4 [11-9].

Jia Xiang Lu (CHN) / Jia-Jing Lu (CHN) (3) defeated Ester Masuri (ISR) / Rishika Sunkara (IND) 6-2 7-6(6).

Cristina Dinu (ROU) / Tadeja Majeric (SLO) (2) defeated Valeria Patiuk (ISR) / Zarah Razafimahatratra (MAD) 6-1 6-2.

Singles 1st round:

Nina Bratchikova (RUS) (1) defeated Valeria Patiuk (ISR) 3-6 6-1 6-2.

Alexandra Romanova (RUS) defeated Keren Shlomo (ISR) 4-6 7-5 7-6(3).

Tadeja Majeric (SLO) (3) defeated Ester Masuri (ISR) (Q) 6-0 3-6 6-2.

Doubles 1st round:

Keren Shlomo (ISR) / Jasmin Steinherr (GER) (4) defeated Nidhi Chilumula (IND) / Sofia Dmitrieva (RUS) 6-0 6-0.

Ester Masuri (ISR) / Rishika Sunkara (IND) defeated Anastasia Meglinskaya (RUS) / Alexandra Romanova (RUS) 6-4 6-0.

Valeria Patiuk (ISR) / Zarah Razafimahatratra (MAD) defeated Jia Xiang Lu (CHN) / Jia-Jing Lu (CHN) (3) 6-1 6-0.

Doubles quarterfinal:

Keren Shlomo (ISR) / Jasmin Steinherr (GER) (4) Vs Anastasia Meglinskaya (RUS) / Alexandra Romanova (RUS).

Ester Masuri (ISR) / Rishika Sunkara (IND) Vs Jia Xiang Lu (CHN) / Jia-Jing Lu (CHN) (3).

Valeria Patiuk (ISR) / Zarah Razafimahatratra (MAD) Vs Cristina Dinu (ROU) / Tadeja Majeric (SLO) (2).

Singles 2nd qualifying round:

Ester Masuri (ISR) defeated Nour Azzouz (EGY) (3) 6-2 6-4, and qualified to the singles main draw.

Singles 1st round:

Nina Bratchikova (RUS) (1) Vs Valeria Patiuk (ISR).

Alexandra Romanova (RUS) Vs Keren Shlomo (ISR).

Ester Masuri (ISR) (Q) Vs Tadeja Majeric (SLO) (3).

Doubles 1st round:

Keren Shlomo (ISR) / Jasmin Steinherr (GER) (4) Vs Nidhi Chilumula (IND) / Sofia Dmitrieva (RUS).

Ester Masuri (ISR) / Rishika Sunkara (IND) Vs Anastasia Meglinskaya (RUS) / Alexandra Romanova (RUS).

Valeria Patiuk (ISR) / Zarah Razafimahatratra (MAD) Vs Jia Xiang Lu (CHN) / Jia-Jing Lu (CHN) (3).

You can see the main draws through tournament's page here.

Singles quarterfinal:

Cristina Dinu (ROU) (5) defeated Valeria Patiuk (ISR) 6-1 6-2.

Doubles quarterfinal:

Keren Shlomo (ISR) / Jasmin Steinherr (GER) (4) defeated Ester Masuri (ISR) / Rishika Sunkara (IND) 7-6(5) 6-1.

Conny Perrin (SUI) / Chanel Simmonds (RSA) (2) defeated Valeria Patiuk (ISR) / Zarah Razafimahatratra (MAD) 6-1 6-1.

Doubles semifinal:

Keren Shlomo (ISR) / Jasmin Steinherr (GER) (4) Vs Nina Bratchikova (RUS) / Margarita Lazareva (RUS) (1).

Singles 2nd round:

Chanel Simmonds (RSA) (2) defeated Ester Masuri (ISR) (Q) 6-0 6-0.

Valeria Patiuk (ISR) defeated Stamatia Fafaliou (GRE) (Q) 6-3 6-3. Patiuk will play in the singles quarterfinal Cristina Dinu (ROU) (5).

Doubles 1st round:

Keren Shlomo (ISR) / Jasmin Steinherr (GER) (4) defeated Fatimah Abinu (NGR) / Naa Shika Adu (GHA) 6-3 6-0.

Doubles quarterfinal:

Keren Shlomo (ISR) / Jasmin Steinherr (GER) (4) Vs Ester Masuri (ISR) / Rishika Sunkara (IND).

Valeria Patiuk (ISR) / Zarah Razafimahatratra (MAD) Vs Conny Perrin (SUI) / Chanel Simmonds (RSA) (2).

Singles 1st round:

Valeria Patiuk (ISR) defeated Dalila Jakupovic (SLO) (4) 7-6(4) 3-6 7-6(6). Patiuk will play in the singles 2nd round against Stamatia Fafaliou (GRE) (Q).

Doubles 1st round:

Ester Masuri (ISR) / Rishika Sunkara (IND) defeated Nour Azzouz (EGY) / Shivika Burman (IND) 6-2 6-0.

Valeria Patiuk (ISR) / Zarah Razafimahatratra (MAD) defeated Tosin Sarah Gbadamosi (NGR) / Beauty Oghenekevwe (NGR) (WC) 6-0 6-1.

Singles 2nd qualifying round:

Ester Masuri (ISR) defeated Chinenye Ndidi Izuogu (NGR) 6-0 6-0, and qualified to the singles main draw.

Singles 1st round:

Dalila Jakupovic (SLO) (4) Vs Valeria Patiuk (ISR).

Jia-Jing Lu (CHN) (6) Vs Keren Shlomo (ISR).

Ester Masuri (ISR) (Q) Vs Arantxa Andrady (IND) (Q).

Doubles 1st round:

Keren Shlomo (ISR) / Jasmin Steinherr (GER) (4) Vs Fatimah Abinu (NGR) / Naa Shika Adu (GHA).

Ester Masuri (ISR) / Rishika Sunkara (IND) Vs Nour Azzouz (EGY) / Shivika Burman (IND).

Valeria Patiuk (ISR) / Zarah Razafimahatratra (MAD) Vs Tosin Sarah Gbadamosi (NGR) / Beauty Oghenekevwe (NGR) (WC).

You can see the main draws through tournament's page here.

Singles semifinal:

Despoina Vogasari (GRE) (8 ) defeated Amit Lev Ari (ISR) (WC) 6-1 6-2.

Ofri Lankri (ISR) (2) defeated Valeria Patiuk (ISR) (4) 3-6 6-3 7-6(4).

The singles final match between Ofri Lankri (ISR) (2) and Despoina Vogasari (GRE) (8 ) will be held today (26.05.2012), starting 10:00 Raanana, Israel time. Live scores will be presented here.

Doubles final:

Ester Masuri (ISR) / Ekaterina Tour (ISR) (2) defeated Angelina Gabueva (RUS) / Vladyslava Zanosiyenko (UKR) 7-5 1-6 [10-5], and won the doubles title. Congratulations girls!

Bianca Botto (PER) (1) defeated Valeria Patiuk (ISR) 6-0 6-2.

Valeria Patiuk (ISR) defeated Margarida Moura (POR) 7-6(6) 6-2. Patiuk will play in the quarterfinal against Bianca Botto (PER) (1).

Singles 1st round:

Valeria Patiuk (ISR) defeated Julia Samuseva (RUS) 7-6(4) 3-6 6-0. Patiuk will play in the 2nd round against Margarida Moura (POR).

You can see the singles main draw here.

Doubles 1st round:

Carlotta Orlando (ITA) / Valeria Patiuk (ISR) BYE.

Doubles quarterfinal:

Amanda Carreras (GBR) / Carolina Prats-Millan (ESP) (3) defeated Carlotta Orlando (ITA) / Valeria Patiuk (ISR) 6-3 7-6(5).