Better known as Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich, the Israeli duo defeated French partners Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra, 7-5, 7-6 in Saturday’s final. The win marks the first time an all-Israeli doubles pair has taken home the trophy, and earned Erlich his first-ever Grand Slam championship and Ram’s third.

Ram won the 2006 Wimbledon with mixed doubles partner Vera Zvonareva and the 2007 French Open with mixed doubles partner Nathalie Dechy. Ram and Dechy teamed up again for the Australian Open this year, but were eliminated in the semi-finals.

Ram and Erlich played for the St. Louis Aces in 2005 and 2007, defeating Pete Sampras and partner Rick Leach of the Newport Beach Breakers July 24, among other WTT men’s doubles teams. Together, Erlich and Ram have won 10 tournaments and have remained undefeated in the Davis Cup for the past three years.

Saturday’s win in Melbourne sparked a congratulatory phone call from the Israeli prime minister to Ram and Erlich, and brought on a flood of emotions for the best friends.

“This is just another example of how the Aces bring the world’s best tennis players to Forest Park every summer,” said Aces General Manager Danielle Apted. “Six months ago, Andy and Joni were playing at Dwight Davis Memorial Tennis Center and now the whole world knows they’re champions.”

Apted said it is her hope to bring Ram and Erlich back as marquee players for one match in the 2008 season, pending their schedule with the Summer Olympics and other tournaments.

“Andy and Joni are the epitome of World TeamTennis players,” she said. “They play hard, they have fun and keep the fans on the edge of their seats. The Aces couldn’t be happier. This proves nice guys do finish first.”

League Background

The World TeamTennis Pro League presented by Advanta enters its 35th season of play in 2008. Billie Jean King and Larry King created the unique gender-equity team concept in the early 70s. The format used for a WTT Pro League match features teams comprised of two men, two women and a coach. Each match consists of five sets, with one set each of men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles and mixed doubles.

World TeamTennis is well known for introducing innovative elements to tennis. Instant replay, which debuted at WTT matches in 2005 as the WTT Coaches Challenge and marked the first time the technology had been used in a professional tennis match, returns to select WTT matches in 2008. Other WTT firsts include co-ed format, cumulative and no-ad scoring, on-court coaching, Super tiebreakers, multi-colored courts and player names on back of their shirts.

Visit www.WTT.com for more information.