Israel is playing host to Russia this weekend in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup men's tennis competition. The quarterfinals are the furthest Israel has ever gone, losing to India in 1987. Russia has been in the last four semifinals, winning the cup in 2006.
In Friday afternoon's first singles match, Harel Levy, who is ranked 210th in the world, will play Russia's best, Igor Andreev, who is ranked 24th. In the second, Dudi Sela, whose hot play has brought him to the 33rd ranking, will take on Mikhail Youzhny, ranked 69th.
On Shabbat, Sela will play Andreev and former top-ranked Russian Marat Safin (now #60) will team with 35th ranked Igor Kunitsyn to face the highly ranked Israeli doubles team of Andy Ram and Yoni Ehrlich which is trying to return to form following Ehrlich's eight-month injury layoff.