Cyprus hosts tense Davis Cup showdown between Israel and Ukraine

Cyprus will host the Davis Cup World Group II matches between Israel and Ukraine on September 13-14 at the Herodotou Academy in Larnaca. Due to security concerns, entry to the matches will be restricted to approximately 100 accredited spectators, mostly Israelis and Ukrainians, with the general public excluded.

The Cyprus Tennis Federation confirmed that Israel, facing ongoing conflict, had to find an alternative venue for the matches. The Israeli Tennis Federation reached out to Cyprus, and after consultations with Cypriot authorities, approval was granted to hold the games on the island.

Officials from the Israeli Federation visited Cyprus three months ago to inspect the facilities, ultimately selecting the Herodotou Academy, a venue with previous experience hosting Davis Cup matches. The upcoming games will meet the standards of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for Category 1 events.

Both teams arrived in Larnaca earlier this week and began training at the Academy. The five-match series draw will take place on Thursday, September 12, with the matches scheduled for Friday and Saturday, starting at 4:00 p.m. and continuing into the evening.

The matches, which will be broadcast live to Israel, are expected to be highly competitive, though Ukraine’s players have a slight edge in world rankings. Israel’s team is led by Yshai Oliel, while Ukraine’s top player is Vitaliy Sachko.

This high-stakes event adds a unique layer of intensity, as two countries entangled in war face off on neutral ground.

[With info from CNA]