In Israel, a land attuned to the ancient texts of the world’s monotheistic faiths, the words “my cup overflows” possess a considerable amount of historical weight and meaning. That phrasing comes from scripture, of course–it’s no small thing in the Holy Land to encounter a lavish and abundant blessing.

Now, 108 years after the Davis Cup began, tennis fans in Israel can celebrate along with their racket-wielding heroes.

Yes, the party is on in Tel Aviv. On a weekend that saw Spain, the Czech Republic, and Croatia win their quarterfinal ties, it was the Israeli Davis Cup team that stole the show. Carried by unlikely heroes–in the spirit of this electrifying international event–Israel filled its cup and then some, defeating Russia, 4-1, to claim the first semifinal berth in the nation’s tennis existence.

Ever heard of the name Harel Levy? Only if you’re a true tennis diehard. Levy carried an ATP Tour singles record of 58-87, plus a world ranking of 210, into this weekend’s tie at Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv. Never able to get past the second round of a Grand Slam singles event, Levy figured to be relatively easy pickings for Russia’s Igor Andreev, a solid top-30 player with a punishing forehand. Levy, however, had a surprise in store for his Russian guest.

Inspired by a fervent home crowd and motivated to win for his country, Levy–doing what other modest pros such as Guy Forget (France, 1991) and Magnus Larsson (Sweden, 1994) managed to achieve in prior years–carried his underdog nation in a Davis Cup tie. Levy’s four-set win over Andreev, in the first rubber of the quarterfinal clash, immediately changed the tone of the tussle between one nation that had never made a deep run in Davis Cup (Israel) and the country that had won two Cups in the past seven years while also reaching the final in another (Russia). With momentum fully on the side of the Israelis on friendly indoor-carpet turf, Levy’s more accomplished partner, world No. 33 Dudi Sela, thumped Mikhail Youzhny in four more sets to give the hosts a 2-0 lead after Friday’s first session. Israel stood one point from the finish line, but that gleaming goal felt a million miles away, given the frailty of the larger situation.

On Saturday, the calculus shifted. Instead of playing merely to stay alive, the Israelis had a chance to clinch the tie with their standout doubles team of Andy Ram and Jonathan Ehrlich. Doubles might provide just one of the four available points in Davis Cup duels, but in light of the relative weakness of his singles players (never mind the aberration of Friday’s opening matches), Israeli team captain Eyal Ran had to be hoping, with all his might, that his doubles team could remove any and all suspense from Sunday’s second pair of singles rubbers. On one hand, Israel had to love its chances with Ram and Ehrlich on the prowl. Then again, an upset loss would have put the Russians back in a fairly favorable position for Sunday. Rarely has a Davis Cup participant faced such pressure while owning a two-rubber lead in the best-of-five-rubber tournament format.

It took awhile, mind you, for Ram and Ehrlich to put all the pieces together, but for a nation that had never tasted the sweetness of a Davis Cup semifinal, no one in Tel Aviv was complaining.

Ram and Ehrlich–clearly nervous in the face of their grand opportunity–blew a two-set lead but rallied to recover on Saturday. The tandem broke Marat Safin’s serve in the tenth game of the fifth set to beat Safin and partner Igor Kunitsyn, locking up the third and deciding point of the tie. The crowd inside Nokia Arena went bonkers, as did a bunch of tennis lifers who delivered the greatest and most meaningful performance they’ll ever produce between the painted white lines.

Sure, Israel will be a huge underdog heading into Sept. 18’s semifinals at defending champion Spain. Know something else? No one will care. Another nation can now sing of a semifinal showing in Davis Cup play.

The cup that is full of joy and laughter will be overflowing with choice beverages tonight and for weeks to come. Israel has arrived, and the Davis Cup party is richer as a result.

DAVIS CUP QUARTERFINAL SCOREBOARD

NOTE: Results exclude specific scores of dead rubbers

Israel d. Russia, 4-1 (Tel Aviv, Israel)

Harel Levy (ISR) d. Igor Andreev (RUS), 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2

Dudi Sela (ISR) d. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS), 3-6, 6-1, 6-0, 7-5

Jonathan Ehrlich and Andy Ram (ISR) d. Igor Kunitsyn and Marat Safin (RUS), 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 4-6, 6-4

Israel clinches tie, 3-0, before Sunday’s dead singles rubbers

Spain d. Germany, 3-2 (Marbella, Spain)

Fernando Verdasco (ESP) d. Andreas Beck (GER), 6-0, 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-1

Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) d. Tommy Robredo (ESP), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4

Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco (ESP) d. Nicolas Kiefer and Mischa Zverev (GER), 6-3, 7-6 (1), 6-7 (6), 6-3

Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) d. Fernando Verdasco (ESP), 6-4, 6-2, 1-6, 2-6, 8-6

Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) d. Andreas Beck (GER), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 (fifth and deciding rubber)

Czech Republic d. Argentina, 3-2 (Ostrava, Czech Republic)

Tomas Berdych (CZE) d. Juan Monaco (ARG), 6-4, 2-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2

Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) d. Ivo Minar (CZE), 6-1, 6-3, 6-3

Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek (CZE) d. Jose Acasuso and Leonardo Mayer (ARG), 6-1, 6-4, 6-3

Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) d. Tomas Berdych (CZE), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4

Radek Stepanek (CZE) d. Juan Monaco (ARG), 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-2 (fifth and deciding rubber)

Croatia d. United States, 3-2 (Porec, Croatia)

Ivo Karlovic (CRO) d. James Blake (USA), 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 7-5

Marin Cilic (CRO) d. Mardy Fish (USA), 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-1, 8-6

Bob and Mike Bryan (USA) d. Roko Karanusic and Lovro Zovko (CRO), 6-3, 6-1, 6-3

Marin Cilic (CRO) d. James Blake (USA), 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2

Croatia clinches tie, 3-1; dead fifth rubber won by United States

UPCOMING DAVIS CUP SCHEDULE

SEMIFINALS – September 18-20

Israel at Spain

Czech Republic at Croatia