Full Breakdown
Israeli Para-Tennis Stars Shine at US Open Amid Ongoing Challenges
By Drooid · · How we work
Israeli Athletes’ US Open Performances
At this year’s US Open, Israel’s two representatives in the men’s wheelchair division delivered mixed results. Sergei Lysov, competing in his second Grand Slam, fell in three sets in his opening-round singles match and was eliminated in the first-round doubles in a super-tiebreaker. Seventeen-year-old Dan Brand made his debut with a three-set victory in the opening singles round, but succumbed in the second round after severe cramps forced a three-set loss. In doubles, Brand partnered with Austria’s Thilo Behrmann as the No. 5 seeds; the pair reached the second round before being defeated by Yannik Alvarez of Puerto Rico and American Ryan Cozad.
Support and Statements from Israel ParaSport Center
Boaz Kramer, chief executive of the Israel ParaSport Center, praised both athletes for reaching the Grand Slam stage. He emphasized that a Grand Slam represents the culmination of a long, demanding road that requires dedication from athletes and their support teams. Kramer affirmed the Center’s commitment to continue backing Lysov, Brand, and their head coaches—Ofri Lankri and Damien Martinique—as they prepare for the upcoming LA28 Paralympic Games.
Challenges Highlighted by Athletes and Families
Brand’s father, Shai Brand, expressed pride in his son’s representation of Israel on the world’s biggest courts while noting the broader obstacles the athletes face. The competitors contend with the aftermath of the regional war, lingering pandemic effects, limited elite-coaching resources, and minimal financial backing, all while rival players benefit from substantially larger budgets.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I am so incredibly proud of my son for reaching the US Open and representing Israel across the Grand Slam stage,” — Shai Brand
- “Despite the ongoing war, the aftermath of the pandemic, a lack of elite coaching support and minimal financial resources, he continues to fight against the very best in the world – competitors backed by massive budgets,” — American Ryan Cozad. Brand
Looking Ahead
Both athletes remain enrolled in the International Tennis Federation’s Grand Slam Player Development Program, which facilitated Brand’s preparation for the tournament. The Israel ParaSport Center plans to sustain its support through training, coaching, and funding initiatives as the pair targets qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games.