Israel to stage 2019 World Team Cup finals

"This wonderful event symbolises the true spirit of sport in equal opportunities, in competitive spirit and in overcoming disabilities to show that all are winners."

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has announced that the 2019 World Team Cup, the ITF’s flagship wheelchair tennis team event, will be hosted by the Israel Tennis Association (ITA) at the Larry and Mary Greenspon Israel Tennis Centre in Ramat Hasharon from 13-18 May 2019.

This is the first time that the BNP Paribas World Team Cup will be staged in Israel, becoming the 19th country to host the event since its inception in 1985.

The World Team Cup is often referred to as the Davis and Fed Cups of wheelchair tennis. The first event took place in California, USA, in 1985 involving six men’s teams. The women’s competition began the following year, with quad and junior events introduced in 1998 and 2000 respectively.

Over 100 teams from around 50 countries take part in the competition each year, with regional qualifying held for the men’s and women’s events.

Israel has a long tradition in wheelchair tennis and an illustrious association with the World Team Cup, being one of just a few countries to have had a men’s team play in the finals on at least 30 occasions.

Israel is also a four-time winner of the quad title and this year’s World Team Cup in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, will mark the 20th occasion that Israel has contested the quad event since its introduction in 1998.

Israel’s Noam Gershony won his country’s first Paralympic wheelchair tennis gold medal in the quad singles at London 2012, while countrymen Boaz Kramer and Shraga Weinberg are also former Paralympic quad doubles medallists.

Israel Tennis Association President Dr Yoni Yarom said: "The Israel Tennis Association is honoured and proud to host the World Team Cup. This wonderful event symbolises the true spirit of sport in equal opportunities, in competitive spirit and in overcoming disabilities to show that all are winners, some in higher ranking than others and some in aspirations!

“We will try our utmost to make the players from all countries comfortable and allow them to concentrate on competing to the best of their ability. Good luck and best results to all players and nations."

ITF President David Haggerty said: “The ITF is delighted that the BNP Paribas World Team Cup will be staged in Israel for the first time. Israel has a long and successful history in wheelchair tennis and has produced some of the sport’s most successful players in the quad division. The World Team Cup is the most prestigious team competition on the ITF’s wheelchair tennis calendar, and we are pleased to see its continued evolution and global reach.”