Dudi Sela

Dudi Sela is an Israeli former professional tennis player who achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 29. He won the French Open junior doubles title in 2003 and has notable victories against former World No. 1 players.

He was a key player in Israel's Davis Cup semifinal run in 2009 and retired from professional tennis in 2022.

Player Profile and Personal Life

David "Dudi" Sela was born on April 4, 1985, in Kiryat Shmona, Israel, a city near the Israel-Lebanon border.

He stands 175 cm tall and he plays right-handed with a one-handed backhand. His father, Michael, is a bus driver, and his mother, Anca, is a nurse from a Jewish family who immigrated to Israel from Romania.

His father changed the family name from Sălăjean to Sela so that it would be more easily pronounced in Israel.

Sela began playing tennis at the age of seven. His tennis idols were his older brother, Ofer, and the Israeli player Amos Mansdorf. At age 18, Sela was exempted from conscription into the Israel Defense Forces.

He has three children with his wife, Marina, and they reside in Tel Aviv. His fan base, known as the "Hebrew Hammer," is a group that enthusiastically cheers for him in both English and Hebrew.

Early Life and Junior Career

Sela was a successful junior player, reaching a career-high junior ranking of No. 9 in singles. In 2003, he won the boys' doubles title at the French Open with his partner György Balázs.

His best singles result at a junior major was reaching the semifinals of the US Open Junior Championships in 2003.

Professional Career

Sela turned professional in 2002. He achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 29 in July 2009. He won a combined 24 singles titles on the ATP Challenger Tour, placing him second on the all-time list. Sela finished as a runner-up in two ATP Tour finals, in Beijing and Atlanta. His most significant singles performance at a major tournament was reaching the fourth round of the Wimbledon Championships in 2009.

Sela was a key member of the Israeli Davis Cup team, with a highlight being their run to the semifinals of the World Group in 2009. He retired from professional tennis in 2022.

Career Record

Singles

• Career record: 143–195
• Career titles: 0
• Highest ranking: No. 29 (July 20, 2009)

Best Grand Slam Singles Performances

• Australian Open – 3R (2009, 2015, 2016)
• French Open – 2R (2009, 2015)
• Wimbledon – 4R (2009)
• US Open – 2R (2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017)

Other tournaments (Singles)

• Olympic Games – 2R (2016)

Doubles

• Career record: 26–48
• Career titles: 1
• Highest ranking: No. 122 (February 22, 2010)

Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances

• Australian Open – 2R (2010)
• French Open – 2R (2010, 2012)
• Wimbledon – 2R (2016)
• US Open – 3R (2009, 2017)

Team competitions

• Davis Cup – SF (2009)