The Fort Worth Press - Israeli tennis Paralympian Berdichevsky happy to bring cheer to October 7 survivors

"I'm very happy that I could give some good times in these bad days," the 40-year-old said after beating Italy's Luca Arca 6-2, 7-5 in front of around 6,000 spectators on the Suzanne Lenglen court at Roland Garros.

Berdichevsky -- who lost his left leg in a boating accident in Thailand in 2007 -- celebrated by hugging his family and then took an Israeli flag and jogged over to where members of the kibbutz were sitting.

"About 20 kids and a few parents were there, including twins whose father is still (a hostage) in Gaza," said a teary-eyed Berdichevsky, who was one of the two Israeli flagbearers at the opening ceremony.

Berdichevsky had hidden with his wife Hila and three children -- sons Yam (10) and Neta (nine) and six-year-old daughter Yuli -- in their house for several hours as Hamas fighters entered Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, just two miles from Gaza.

He put his family into the safe room while he gathered up a computer for his children to play on. He also picked up two knives to use as protection if the Hamas fighters entered the house.

The family were eventually evacuated with others to a safe house.

The attacks overall resulted in the death of 1,199 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 40,602 people in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry. The UN rights office says most of the dead are women and children.

Berdichevsky said after his victory in Pais he had never "played in front of a crowd like this" but he had taken measures prior to the match not to be overcome with emotion when he emerged on court.

"I went before the match," he said with regard to meeting with his friends from the kibbutz.

"So I told myself it's better to cry before than go into the match and see all of them and then be emotional.

"So yeah, we talked to them.

"So I cried before and then I was focused on the match."

- 'A good thing' -

Berdichevsky, who following the attacks decided to move to Houston, Texas, where his best friend lives, was grateful for the support he had received on Friday and said it meant a lot to him to reward his supporters with a win.

"I think it helps mentally because since then (October 7) for me nothing is really important," he said.

"If I lose, I lose. If I win, I win.

"Before that, if I was losing a match, it took me one or two days to be okay. Now, right after I'm okay."

Berdichevsky, who said he did not "sleep even one hour this night", spent much of the break between points high-fiving with his children and his wife -- what he called "good things".

"It keeps me focused. I remember doing that from my last game that they were there.

"So it just helped me. So I did it again."

Berdichevsky admitted they had all received psychological help since the attacks but having cheated death on two occasions he was remarkably sanguine about the boating accident that cost him his leg.

Hila credits him with saving her life as she stood petrified as the boat sank and he pushed her into the water -- he got sucked into the engine which cost him his leg.

"I mean, thanks to the boat I'm here," he said.

"So this is good. The boat, I see it as a good thing.

"And the other thing is not a good thing at all. Of course, all the time it runs through my head.

"You can't stop thinking about it."

As for whether Houston remains home, he is hedging his bets.

"I have tickets to Israel and I have tickets to Houston," he said.

"We need to decide."

J.Barnes--TFWP