Original Blog Entry: Peer reaches Dubai quarterfinals

NBey6 — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:13:20 GMT

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Peer reaches Dubai quarterfinals

Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Shahar Peer upset top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 7-5 Wednesday, reaching the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championship a year after she was denied a visa to play in the tournament.

I played very, very good, and I'm really happy, Peer said. I was dominating from the first game until the end.

Defending champion Venus Williams advanced with a 7-5, 6-0 win over Olga Govortsova. Second-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova was upset by qualifier Regina Kulikova 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-4, while Vera Zvonareva, last weekend's Pattaya champion, defeated sixth-seeded Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 6-2 to run her win streak to seven matches.

Last year, Dubai organizers were fined $300,000 by the WTA for not allowing Peer to play in the event. She was denied a visa by the United Arab Emirates government, citing security reasons.

The Israeli had at least one break opportunity on each of Wozniacki's 10 service games. She had never previously won a set off the U.S. Open finalist in three previous matches.

Peer lost to Wozniacki 6-4, 6-0 in the third round of the Australian Open.

When I played her in Australia, I played well in the first set, and I had my chances but I didn't take them, Peer said. So I knew the next time I have to play her, I really need to take my chances because she never gives up. She's always there. I'm really happy I could manage it.

The 22nd-ranked Peer closed it out on her fifth match point in a second set that contained seven breaks. The third-ranked Wozniacki held serve only twice in the match.

She played really well, Wozniacki said. She kept changing the rhythm all the time. I had a few unforced errors early in the match and never managed to put her under pressure.

The match was moved from Center Court to Court No. 1 at the Aviation Club because it is the most secure, a decision Wozniacki agreed to even though she said the court speed was different.

If there is a threat to her, there is a threat to me as well. So I completely agree with the fact that the match was scheduled on Court No. 1. I'd rather be safe than sorry, Wozniacki said. The change of court did create a bit of a problem, since it was a little faster than the Center Court. But the conditions were the same for both of us and I really can't complain.

Both players traded breaks in the opening set before Peer broke decisively to lead 4-1. Wozniacki won only 42 percent her points on her first serve and 37 percent on the second.

Third-seeded Williams started sluggishly to trail 4-1. She changed strategy, not going for winners and extending the rallies, and allowed Govortsova only one more game in the match.

I started the match with a double-break, which wasn't ideal, Williams said. But I just had to just start from where I was and not get frustrated about it.

Williams will play Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who beat Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 6-4. Peer will face Li Na, who rallied past Marion Bartoli 3-6, 7-5, 6-0.

Other matches went as seeded: Fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka defeated Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 and seventh-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska dispatched Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 6-0.

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