Dudi drops out of final with injury

Sela, ranked No. 94 in the world, was hoping to collect some much-needed ranking points and confidence ahead of next month’s US Open.

By ALLON SINAI
Dudi Sela 370 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Dudi Sela 370
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Dudi Sela was forced to retire from the Istanbul Cup final against Benjamin Becker due to a recurring back injury on Sunday, missing an opportunity to claim his second title of the year on the Challenger circuit.
Sela, ranked No. 94 in the world, was hoping to collect some much-needed ranking points and confidence ahead of next month’s US Open. However, he failed to even finish his match against Becker (105), choosing to call it quits while trailing 6-1, 2-6, 3-2 and not risk further injury ahead of the year’s final Grand Slam tournament.
After missing Roland Garros and Wimbledon, Sela had ensured himself direct entry to the main draw of the US Open even before Sunday’s defeat.
Sela, who first experienced the back pain in the Wimbledon qualifiers, plans to remain in Turkey for another week to take part in the Eskisehir Challenger event.
In women’s news, Julia Glushko (105) is set to have to qualify for the US Open after falling in the semifinals of the Yakima ITF event in Washington state on Saturday.
Glushko, who leapfrogged Pe’er to become the Israel No. 1 last month for the first time, saw her eightmatch winning streak snapped with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 loss to Nicole Gibbs, who is ranked exactly 100 places below her at No. 205.
Glushko, who catapulted to a new career high last week after winning the ITF tournament in Waterloo, Canada, is set to drop in the rankings due to the defeat and will join Shahar Pe’er in the qualifiers in New York next month.