 Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 08 Feb 2009 |  Photographer: Nir Keidar
Date: 03 Feb 2008 |  Photographer: GEPA
Date: 14 Jul 2007 |  Photographer: Kyle Clapham
Date: 21 Apr 2007 |  Photographer: Nir Keidar
Date: 27 Apr 2008 |  Photographer: Nir Keidar
Date: 01 Feb 2008 |
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| 14 Aug 2009 - Neil Robinson | |
| Fed Cup record holder Obziler retires |
Tzipi Obziler, who played 61 Fed Cup ties for Israel, announced her retirement from tennis on Thursday.
"This is the right time for me to retire," an emotional Obziler said on Thursday."I'm grateful for this wonderful and small country which gave me the opportunity to have a great career."
In Israel's last Fed Cup tie, a World Group II Play-off against Estonia in April this year, Obziler equalled former teammate Anna Smashnova's Fed Cup participation record, playing her 61st tie.
"This is a very emotional day for me," said Israeli No. 1 Shahar Peer. "Tzipi was like a sister to me. From my first day in the national team Tzipi always helped and supported me." The duo played 13 Fed Cup doubles rubbers together, posting a 7-6 record.
Obziler has played 90 rubbers, compiling a 51-39 win-loss record in a Fed Cup career that lasted 16 years. She was part of the Israel team that reached the World Group for the first time in the nation's history in 2008 as it won 10 ties in a row to enter the elite.
She did not close the door entirely on her Fed Cup career however. "If captain Lior Mor decides he wants me on the team and I see that I'm physically capable of playing, than of course I wouldn't refuse."
Since making its World Group debut, losing to Russia in the 2008 First Round, Israel has narrowly lost three ties - each one being decided in the doubles rubber - and will begin 2010 back in Europe/Africa Group I.
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