The semi-finals of the Israeli Senior Championship, which takes place this week in Raanana, were scheduled, when the first three men and the first two women qualified and a surprise was recorded with the promotion of the young Mika Buchnik to the semifinals.
The senior ranked, Idan Leshem, defeated Moore Bullis 4: 6 and 1: 6 and will meet Jordan Hasson in the semifinals tomorrow, who defeated Yasha Zemel 2: 6, 6: 2 and 3: 6 (ranked 4). Daniel Zuckerman (3) defeated Roi Ginat 2: 6 and 0: 6 and will play against Yishai Uliel (2) who defeated Yair Saruk 1: 6 and 2: 6. The two met on Sunday this week in the Final Four of the WINNER League and Zuckerman defeated Uliel in three sets.
A surprise was recorded in the women’s competition when 13-and-a-half-year-old Mika Buchnik qualified for the semifinals of the Israeli senior championships. Buchnik played against Maya Tahan, who is ranked 3rd in the championship, was defeated 6: 4 in the first set, won 4: 6 in the second and in a 2: 2 situation in the third set, Tahan retired for a medical reason.
Buchnik, who trains at the joint national academy at the tennis association’s tennis center and tennis centers, will meet senior runner-up Lina Glushko tomorrow, who defeated Sabrina Kalendrov 2: 6 and 1: 6.
Second-placed Vlada Katic defeated Daniela Shwed 2: 6 2: 6 and will play against Shelly Brezniak (4) who defeated Mika Dagan Fruchtman after three and a quarter hours of 6: 7, 6: 3 and 3: 6.
In the men’s doubles final, Yair Sarok and Saar Simon (defeated Amit Shemesh and Shachar Elbaz 4: 6 and 1: 6) against Yarden Hasson and Lior Goldenberg (defeated Nir Woodbuz and Omer Yeshaya 1: 6 and 2: 6). In the women’s doubles final, Esther Psiuk and Tal Dekel (defeated Ofer Kiviti and Daniela Sheved 6: 3, 3: 6 and 10:12) against Adva Debach and Daria Schwartzman (defeated Liam Oved and Mai Burns 3: 6, 3: 6).