US Open

Israel set to play Canada for Davis Cup showdown in Scotiabank Centre

Team Israel is heading to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, to compete against Team Canada from September 12 to 14 in World Group I.

|ByHOWARD BLAS
Israeli tennis captain Jonathan Erlich.
One of Israeli tennis player Sergei Lysov at the US Open.

Sergei Lysov’s New York breakthrough in wheelchair tennis

Now, as he competes internationally, Lysov proudly represents Israel. His racket features an Israeli flag damper, and his tennis wheelchair is adorned with yellow ribbons as a tribute to the hostages

|ByHOWARD BLAS
Piotr Szczerek recorded taking a hat being handed to a child.

Polish CEO admits ‘huge mistake’ after viral clip shows him taking hat from a child

Szczerek claimed he was “convinced” that tennis player Kamil Majchrzak had been "passing his hat in my direction..."

|ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
ISRAELI TENNIS player Mika Buchnik, fresh from competing at the US Open juniors in both singles and doubles, is set to begin her journey as a student-athlete with the Oklahoma Sooners.

Israeli junior tennis star Mika Buchnik off to Oklahoma

Mika Buchnik has reached WTA career-high rankings of 843 in singles and 1009 in doubles, has competed at three Junior Grand Slams – Wimbledon, Roland Garros, and the Australian Open.

|ByHOWARD BLAS

US Open tennis highlights: Israelis and Jewish players in action

At the US Open, identifying players with even the slightest Jewish connection requires inside tips, additional sleuthing, and perseverance.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2025ByHOWARD BLAS
BETWEEN ISRAEL-BORN Canadian Denis Shapovalov (left) and the always-popular kosher food stand and minyan announcements (right) on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the US Open definitely has its Jewish and Israeli fans covered.

Getting Israeli players back to the top of the tennis landscape

The days of big-name Israelis playing in the baking hot sun or in the late-night chill of Queens, NY, in front of flag-waving, cheering Israeli supporters, are a distant memory.

AUGUST 21, 2025ByHOWARD BLAS
YONI ERLICH (left) and Dudi Sela (right) – playing together in the Davis Cup in 2013 – icons of Israeli tennis whose successors are hopefully just around the corner.

Family, faith, and forehands: Rising Jewish star Kaylan Bigun’s New York experience

Despite a tough quarterfinal exit, Kaylan Bigun’s tennis journey is marked by family support, connections to Israel, and excitement for his upcoming college career at UCLA.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2024ByHOWARD BLAS
CALIFORNIA NATIVE Kaylan Bigun was a strong contender to win the US Open Junior Tournament, coming in as the second seed, but he fell in the quarterfinals.

Schwartzman grateful during Grand Slam swan song

Diego Schwartzman played his last Grand Slam match at the 2024 US Open, receiving a heartfelt send-off from fans as he prepares to retire in 2025.

AUGUST 28, 2024ByHOWARD BLAS
ARGENTINE-JEWISH tennis star Diego Schwartzman holds a collage he was presented with following his last-ever match at the US open, a loss to Gael Monfils ahead of his impending retirement.

Valerie Glozman hits the Big Apple

Glozman, the USTA Girls’ 18s national singles runner-up, received a wild card into the qualifying tournament.

AUGUST 22, 2024ByHOWARD BLAS
VALERIE GLOZMAN, who is connected to her Jewish roots, was knocked out of the qualifying for the main draw at the US Open, but the 17-year-old will feature in the junior tournament.

US Open serves kosher food, hosts Jewish prayer quorums

“Having kosher food at the US Open means you don’t feel excluded. You are part of the crowd,” said visitor Eli Feit.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2023ByHOWARD BLAS
‘KNISHES FOR sale!’ Prime Kosher Sports offerings.

Israeli quads tennis star Guy Sasson shares his 1st US Open experience

The 43-year-old Sasson shared the very emotional experience of playing on such a big stage as equals with such tennis greats as US Open finalists Djokovic and Danil Medvedev.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023ByHOWARD BLAS
GUY SASSON of Israel competes with doubles partner Koji Sugeno of Japan during their first-round match at the US Open Quads event in Queens, New York.

American junior Glozman serves on 2nd US Open, Jewish heritage

Glozman’s successful year continued when the then No. 2 ranked player in the country won the prestigious FILA Easter Bowl tournament.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023ByHOWARD BLAS
VALERIE GLOZMAN – the daughter of a Ukrainian Jewish father and a Taiwanese mother – has played in the qualifying events of both women and junior events at the US Open for the past two years.

US Open ejects fan for using Adolf Hitler regime phrase

CNN reported that the fan uttered a phrase from the German national anthem, which since has been removed, that became a rallying cry under Hitler during World War II.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023ByREUTERS
A tennis racket and two tennis balls on a court

Former Israeli tennis stars reflect on US Open

What do you do post retirement when your job WAS playing in the US Open?

AUGUST 31, 2023ByHOWARD BLAS
THE WRITER (left) runs into retired Israel tennis legend Andy Ram (right) grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York this week.

Swinging into action at the US Open

Fans flock to Flushing Meadows for last Grand Slam of the year • No Israeli players in main draw

AUGUST 24, 2023ByHOWARD BLAS
WITH PREVIOUS quarterfinal runs at the US Open – in 2017 and 2019 – Jewish-Argentinian Diego Schwartzman will look to break out of a recent slump and make some noise in this year’s tournament, which gets under way next week.