“The Israel Tennis & Education Centers taught me to be a human being… and apretty fair tennis player, too.”
Such self-effacing recollections are what has endeared Grand SlamChampion and ITEC alum Yoni Erlich to the world. Not only is he anddoubles partner Andy Ram one of the most celebrated sports stars inIsraeli history, but through it all his mensch-like qualitiescontinue to be a true inspiration to everyone he meets, especiallythe children of the Israel Tennis & Education Centers where he got his start.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Yoni moved with his family to Haifaat the tender age of one. He was introduced to tennis two years laterat a playground in Haifa and within six months his parents broughthim to the ITEC – Haifa. He played his first tournament when he wasjust seven years old and continued to hone his skills on the courtuntil the age of 15 when he left for more training at the prestigiousWingate Institute, where he met his future doubles partner Andy Ram.
“I remember the Haifa community being very supportive of the ITECbecause it was the one place children could learn life skills thatfar exceeded anything we could achieve on the tennis court. Valueslike discipline, following your dreams, having goals and pursuingthem and always striving to be the best were all things I was taughtat the ITEC.”
After completing his military obligation, Yoni returned to the ITEC,this time in the High Performance Program at the ITEC – RamatHasharon. Four years later, in 2003, Yoni and Andy burst onto theworld scene when they reached the semifinals at Wimbeldon, defeatingalong the way the number 2 seeded doubles team of Mark Knowles andDaniel Nestor in straight sets.Later that year they won their first doubles title on the ATP tour bycapturing the Thailand Open, and went on to win the Grand Prix de Lyon.But their real claim to fame would come five years later, in 2008,when the dynamic duo captured the Australian Open tennis title. Theybecame the first doubles tennis team from Israel to ever win a GrandSlam tennis title!
Yoni has continued to excel on the tennis courts, and is stillactively competing and winning as one of Israel’s most successfulsports figures.And he attributes much of that success to the experiences andteachings of the ITEC. That’s why he continually gives back to the ITECby helping the children whenever he visits the center. “I remember asa kid how special I felt being part of the Israel Tennis & Education Centersprogram. And that feeling is what I try to pass on to the youngpeople there whenever I come back to the center. I remember howmotivating it was to be around stars like Amos Mansdorf, and I thinkI can provide that same kind of inspiration to the children I meetand train at the ITEC.
“The ITEC means the world to me and I want these children to have thesame opportunity to achieve, not just as tennis players, but as humanbeings. I know the Israel Tennis & Education Centers is the place that makes thathappen”