Fed Cup put me on a high: Tzipora

8220;Billie Jean King approached me after that match and asked why I don8217;t play full time. I listened to her. Then I listened to my heart,8221; Obziler said. At 34, Obziler is part of Israel8217;s Fed Cup team. Additional inspiration came in the form of Lance Armstrong8217;s book, Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life.

Obziler has won 13 ITF events, including last summer8217;s Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington.

8220;It was Fed Cup that put me on a high. Our team played good tennis and now we are in the World Group with a tie on home soil.8221;

After more than a decade of playing Fed Cup ties away from home, Israeli players and fans were compensated when the team was drawn to host Russia in their first-ever World Group tie next February.

The team has come a long way since and booked its place among the elite eight in July after winning its 11th consecutive tie, defeating Austria 4-1 in the World Group playoffs. Perhaps it was the years in the army that helped shape her character: 8220;In the army there are no short cuts. It teaches you discipline,8221; she said.