Shahar Peer

Shahar Peer:shahar peer is an Israeli professional tennis player. Her career-high singles ranking is World No. 14, which she achieved on June 7, 2010. This is the highest ranking ever achieved by an Israeli.To the outside observer, the most notable thing is the U.S. Open Venus Williams‘ victory over Shahar Peer on Sunday, was the number of times the seven-time Grand Slam champion pulled her mini-dress with red sequins for the 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 match.

The dress was driving dangerously high so frequently CBS aired stat comparing the number of dress tugs between the U.S. and Israel (Williams was the way forward). But the fashion nonsense is hardly the story of this match.

It was a battle between two rival female victims of ethnic discrimination and formed a special bond as a result – like the friendship between the 1956 Wimbledon doubles champion Althea Gibson, a black American, and Angela Buxton, a British Jew.

It was Williams, who in 2009 said, when the peer was refused entry to the United Arab Emirates to participate in the tournament in Dubai. Partly as a result of the position of Williams, a peer in this year became the first Israeli woman competing in the UAE. Because of security concerns Pera, all its matches, including her semi-final against Williams, played on a remote court. Peer also been forced to stay in another hotel from the other players, changes in the private locker room, and she was not allowed to go for a walk on the tournament grounds.

Williams said she could empathize with a peer “ because of my history of Afro-American.”Then she opened on this subject more than it was in the past.

“ My parents both came from the South in the 40′s and 50′s. [] Peer situation outrage, really. I just wanted to, `Are you serious? Can you exclude someone? ‘This is a professional tennis in 2010. We are all athletes here. We are not politicians. The feeling inside of me, was just one of almost anger and discontent. Like, `Is this for real?

“ In a sense, we are connected, because, unfortunately, the world is what it is today. People do not get along for any reason. I think as professional athletes, so we almost ambassadors of peace, because sport brings everything together.”

Peer took advantage of this opportunity, in a press conference postmatch thank Williams for her support.

“ She was always really supportive, always on my side – there was only one, and Andy Roddick, who refused to play there this year, which began,”said Peer. “ I did, how to get two or three e-mails from other players, but it was the only one who came up and showed it cares about these things. And also, this year it was very good. When we played outdoors, she was very modest. She understands what I feel.”

But they put their friendship aside, the stadium court on Sunday, and invited fans of the best tennis players in the first four rounds of the drawing women. Williams had to struggle with her serve, and Peer took advantage.

Down 5-6 and 0-40 in the first set, she saved five break points and survived a 22-point games to force a tiebreaker.

There are riveting not extend in the first match, which the champion Kim Clijsters won 6-2, 6-1 in 59 minutes over former number one Ana Ivanovic.

Williams earned a quarterfinal berth against № 6 Francesca Schiavone, the only 30-year-old left in the draw. Italian won the French Open this year and is known for its spin-up. In addition, she delighted the audience (and Roger Federer) and on-foot-shot rarely seen in tennis women.

Federer joked that women do not hit the crotch-shots “ because they never come to the network, so they’ll never be suspended.”

Schiavone is no exception. “ She has a great ability to come up with some different options for women’s player, who pleased to see,”said Federer. “ She is not afraid to try things, that’s why I like to look at it.”

Williams, who played in 51 Grand Slam tournaments, looks forward to the challenge.

“ Obviously, it plays better than ever,”Williams said. “ It looks like all the beats of their step 30. This new 20.

“ I hope my experience will help me, as it did [Sunday], where I had my opponent in some difficult situations, and was still able to win.”