Ilana Berger
{{short description|Israeli tennis player}}
{{Infobox tennis biography
|name = Ilana Berger
|image= File:אילנה ברגר 2008 - 1.jpg
|country= {{ISR}}
|residence = Herzliya, Israel
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1965|12|31}}
|birth_place = Mexico City, Mexico
|height =
|turnedpro =
|retired =
|plays = Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
|careerprizemoney = $69,934
|singlesrecord = 145–86
|highestsinglesranking = No. 149 (10 August 1992)
|AustralianOpenresult =
|FrenchOpenresult =
|Wimbledonresult =
|USOpenresult =
|Othertournaments = yes
|Olympicsresult= 1R (1988)
|doublesrecord = 125–62
|doublestitles = 0 WTA, 15 ITF
|highestdoublesranking = No. 153 (25 November 1991)
|AustralianOpenDoublesresult = 1R (1988, 1992)
|native_name=אילנה ברגר|native_name_lang=he}}
Ilana Berger ({{langx|he|אילנה ברגר}}; born 1965) is a Mexican-born Israeli former professional tennis player and Olympian.
Berger reached her highest individual ranking on the WTA Tour on 10 August 1992, when she became # 149 in the world. On 25 November 1991, she peaked at world number 153 in the doubles rankings.
Biography
Berger was born on 31 December 1965, in Mexico City, Mexico. She started playing tennis at the age of 7.
Tennis career
In the late 1980s, after serving for two years in the Israel Defense Forces, Berger became a professional tennis player. She won 7 singles titles in the ITF Women's Circuit.
Berger won 12 Maccabiah Games medals during her career, including gold, a few of them as a "veteran" while playing Mixed Doubles with Shlomo Glickstein.{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-07-13/sports/8902200779_1_andrea-berger-top-seed-todd-witsken|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141230232928/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-07-13/sports/8902200779_1_andrea-berger-top-seed-todd-witsken|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 30, 2014|title=Maccabiah Games Andrea Berger Wins Gold, Silver In Tennis Competition}} At the 1989 Maccabiah Games she beat American Andrea Berger to win a gold medal in women's singles.{{cite web | url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1989-07-13-8902200779-story.html | title=Maccabiah Games Andrea Berger Wins Gold, Silver in Tennis Competition }}
Berger was elected as one of three best tennis players in Israel's history in the celebrations of Israel's first 50 years.
Berger was Israel's Women's National Champion for five years.
Berger competed for Israel at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
Berger represented Israel in 26 meetings in the Federation Cup from 1986–92, going 19–21.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}
In 2010 she was awarded a honorary medal by the Knesset "for her activities in tennis".[https://www.one.co.il/Article/161423.html הכנסת העניקה עיטורי כבוד לוותיקי הספורט]
Journalism career
At the age of 26, she decided to study literature and journalism. She worked 7 years as a sports correspondent for Haaretz. She coaches tennis privately and is a freelance sports journalist. Today she is chief editor of the internet site of the Tel Aviv University Sports Center.
ITF Finals
= Singles Finals: 13 (8-5) =
class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%; width:12%;" |
style="background:#f88379;"
| $100,000 tournaments |
style="background:#f7e98e;"
| $75,000 tournaments |
style="background:#addfad;"
| $50,000 tournaments |
style="background:lightblue;"
| $25,000 tournaments |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| $10,000 tournaments |
class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size:97%;"
!Result !width=20| No. !width=105| Date !width=150| Tournament !width=55| Surface !width=150| Opponent !width=120| Score |
style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 1. | 10 November 1986 | Jerusalem, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|NED}} Yvonne der Kinderen | 6–2, 6–4 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 2. | 30 March 1987 | Haifa, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|FRA}} Cécille Calmette | 6–2, 6–0 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 3. | 6 April 1987 | Arad, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|NED}} Hester Witvoet | 2–6, 1–6 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 4. | 23 November 1987 | Jerusalem, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|ISR}} Dalia Koriat | 6–3, 6–2 |
style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 5. | 24 October 1988 | Ashkelon, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Debbie Spence | 3–6, 4–6 |
style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 6. | 23 April 1990 | Ramat HaSharon, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Robyn Field | 3–6, 6–3, 5–7 |
style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 7. | 13 August 1990 | Chatham, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Shannan McCarthy | 6–2, 7–6(7–4) |
style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 8. | 5 November 1990 | Ashkelon, Israel | Clay | {{flagicon|ISR}} Tzipora Obziler | 6–1, 6–3 |
style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 9. | 12 November 1990 | Ashkelon, Israel | Clay | {{flagicon|ISR}} Dalia Koriat | 7–5, 6–1 |
style="background:lightblue;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 10. | 22 April 1991 | Ramat HaSharon, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Mariaan de Swardt | 3–6, 6–4, 2–6 |
style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 11. | 5 August 1991 | Ramat HaSharon, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Janine Humphreys | 6–3, 6–3 |
style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 12. | 12 August 1991 | Ashkelon, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Tessa Price | 6–7(7–9), 7–6(7–2), 3–6 |
style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 13. | 19 August 1991 | Ashkelon, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Tessa Price | 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 6–4 |
= Doubles Finals: 25 (15-10) =
class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size:97%;"
! Result ! No. ! Date ! Tournament ! Surface ! Partner ! Opponents ! Score |
style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 1. | 19 May 1986 | Jaffa, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|ISR}} Sagit Doron | {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Laura Bernard | 6–2, 6–7, 2–6 |
style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 2. | 30 March 1987 | Arad, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|ISR}} Yael Shavit | {{flagicon|NED}} Titia Wilmink | 6–3, 6–2 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 3. | {{dts|format=dmy|1987|5|11}} | Lee-on-Solent, United Kingdom | Clay | {{flagicon|NED}} Titia Wilmink | {{flagicon|GBR}} Valda Lake | 3–6, 2–6 |
style="background:lightblue;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 4. | 17 August 1987 | Manhasset, United States | Clay | {{flagicon|USA}} Jane Thomas | {{flagicon|NED}} Brenda Schultz-McCarthy | 6–4, 6–1 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 5. | 23 November 1987 | Jerusalem, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|ISR}} Rafeket Benjamini | {{flagicon|NED}} Jana Koran | 6–2, 6–1 |
style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 6. | 7 March 1988 | Haifa, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|ISR}} Yael Segal | {{flagicon|FIN}} Anne Aallonen | 1–6, 5–7 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 7. | 8 August 1988 | Koksijde, Belgium | Clay | {{flagicon|ISR}} Anat Varon | {{flagicon|FRG}} Renata Kochta | 6–2, 1–6, 6–2 |
style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 8. | 15 August 1988 | Rebecq, Belgium | Clay | {{flagicon|ISR}} Anat Varon | {{flagicon|USSR}} Elena Brioukhovets | 2–6, 2–6 |
style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 9. | 24 October 1988 | Ashkelon, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|ISR}} Hagit Ohayon | {{flagicon|ISR}} Medi Dadoch | 7–5, 6–0 |
style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 10. | 31 October 1988 | Haifa, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|ISR}} Hagit Ohayon | {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Robyn Field | 6–3, 6–1 |
style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 11. | 7 November 1988 | Jaffa, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|ISR}} Hagit Ohayon | {{flagicon|NED}} Colette Sely | 6–3, 6–4 |
style="background:lightblue;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 12. | 15 May 1989 | Jaffa, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|ESP}} María José Llorca | {{flagicon|FIN}} Anne Aallonen | 6–3, 6–2 |
style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 13. | 30 July 1990 | Roanoke, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|ISR}} Limor Zaltz | {{flagicon|ISR}} Dalia Koriat | 6–2, 4–6, 4–6 |
style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 14. | 6 August 1990 | Lebanon, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|ISR}} Limor Zaltz | {{flagicon|USA}} Kathy Foxworth | 4–6, 1–4 RET. |
style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 15. | 22 October 1990 | Lyss, Switzerland | Clay | {{flagicon|ISR}} Rona Mayer | {{flagicon|GER}} Sabine Lohmann | 1–6, 5–7 |
style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 16. | 5 November 1990 | Ashkelon, Israel | Clay | {{flagicon|ISR}} Limor Zaltz | {{flagicon|GER}} Daniella Blanke | 6–2, 6–1 |
style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 17. | 12 November 1990 | Ashkelon, Israel | Clay | {{flagicon|ISR}} Limor Zaltz | {{flagicon|ISR}} Dalia Koriat | 4–6, 6–1, 6–1 |
style="background:lightblue;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 18. | 22 April 1991 | Ramat HaSharon, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|GBR}} Julie Salmon | {{flagicon|FIN}} Anne Aallonen | 6–4, 6–4 |
style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 19. | 5 August 1991 | Ramat HaSharon, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Robyn Field | {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Janine Humphreys | 6–0, 6–1 |
style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 20. | 12 August 1991 | Ashkelon, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Robyn Field | {{flagicon|USA}} Kirsten Dreyer | w/o |
style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 21. | 19 August 1991 | Jerusalem, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Robyn Field | {{flagicon|GBR}} Barbara Griffiths | 3–6, 7–6, 1–6 |
style="background:#addfad;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 22. | 2 September 1991 | Arzachena, Italy | Hard | {{flagicon|AUS}} Louise Pleming | {{flagicon|FIN}} Nanne Dahlman | 6–3, 3–6, 1–6 |
style="background:lightblue;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 23. | 11 November 1991 | Swindon, United Kingdom | Carpet | {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Tessa Price | {{flagicon|BEL}} Els Callens | 6–2, 7–5 |
style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 24. | 25 May 1992 | Ashkelon, Israel | Hard | {{flagicon|NED}} Petra Kamstra | {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Michelle Anderson | 6–2, 2–6, 6–4 |
style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 25. | 10 October 1994 | Burgdorf, Switzerland | Carpet (i) | {{flagicon|ISR}} Tzipora Obziler | {{flagicon|CZE}} Lenka Cenková | 6–4, 3–6, 4–6 |
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{WTA}}
- {{ITF}}
- {{BJK Cup player}}
- {{Olympedia}}
- {{Olympics.com|ilana-berger|org_archive=20200502200127}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berger, Ilana}}
Category:Tennis players from Mexico City
Category:20th-century Mexican Jews
Category:Mexican emigrants to Israel
Category:Mexican people of Israeli descent
Category:Israeli female tennis players
Category:Israeli people of Mexican-Jewish descent
Category:Tennis players at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Category:Jewish Israeli sportspeople
Category:Jewish tennis players
Category:Olympic tennis players for Israel
Category:Maccabiah Games gold medalists for Israel
Category:Maccabiah Games medalists in tennis
Category:Competitors at the 1989 Maccabiah Games