Posted on 06/04/2006 2:20:29 AM PDT by beyond the sea
PARIS (AFP) - Israeli soldier Shahar Peer was one of the top marksmen in her military training and now she has Martina Hingis in her sights at the
The 19-year-old Peer knocked out Russian sixth seed Elena Dementieva 6-4, 7-5 on Saturday and faces Hingis on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals.
Win or lose, Peer will continue to combine her tennis career with her obligation to serve two years military service with the Israeli army.
"I had to train with weapons during my two and half weeks basic training. I was one of the best in shooting. I really liked it and it was a great experience," said Peer who is the first Israeli to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam since Anna Smashnova here in 1998.
Peer's tennis career means she can take advantage of an Israeli government programme which allows professional sportsmen and women to spend their two years national service in mundane routines.
"I have to attend four hours every day but I just work in the office, dealing with the computers and answering the phones - no guns."
Peer, the 31st seed, is one of the tour's form players having won all her three career titles in 2006 including two on clay - at Prague and Istanbul - in the run-up to the French Open.
Ironically, it was Hingis who beat Smashnova when she made the fourth round in 1998.
"It's going to be a great match," said Peer, who made the third round in 2005. "There'll be no pressure. I came here to defend my third round from last year. Now I'm in the fourth round and I just hope to keep the run going."
Her success on clay is surprising. When she was growing up, she had to compete with other players to use the meagre four clay courts which existed in the country although she was able to gain valuable experience from travelling to Europe to play and practice.
That has all paid off. As well as her wins in Prague and Istanbul, she has also won 18 matches out of 18 in the Fed Cup.
Peer may need a weapon (other than her tennis raquet) to overcome Martina Hingis the way she is playing these days.
This should be a very interesting match.
I wonder for whom Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may be rooting.
;-)
Tennis/French Open/Hingis ............... ping.
Shahar Peer gets that Monica Seles look on her face. She looks like a relentless competitor.
;-)
pics..we need pics..BTW..Smashnova was the best name for an athlete, ever
No it's not. Go Martina!
;-)
Yes, I think Hingis will beat Peer, but they have similar styles. I read that Peer is somewhat of a tactician on the court too. There could be some pretty long rallies.
By the way, when/is that Hingis match to be televised?
Tennis/French Open/Hingis/Israel ........... ping
Headline by the blatantly anti-Semitic AFP.
It certainly was an eye-catching headline.
If you would not like pinged to tennis threads, please let me know.
;-)
yahoo.com ^ | 6/3/06 |
PARIS (AFP) - Israeli soldier Shahar Peer was one of the top marksmen in her military training and now she has Martina Hingis in her sights at the French Open.
The 19-year-old Peer knocked out Russian sixth seed Elena Dementieva 6-4, 7-5 on Saturday and faces Hingis on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals.
Win or lose, Peer will continue to combine her tennis career with her obligation to serve two years military service with the Israeli army.
"I had to train with weapons during my two and half weeks basic training. I was one of the best in shooting. I really liked it and it was a great experience," said Peer who is the first Israeli to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam since Anna Smashnova here in 1998.
.
I hope you aren't too serious, but maybe you are.
****
Sort of like a headlines like:
Scientists Getting Overheated Concerning Global Warming Predictions
Scientists Are All Wet Over Rain Predictions
Scientists Getting Overheated Concerning Global Warming Predictions
Scientists Are All Wet Over Rain Predictions
I'm kind of partial to Slutskaya (Irina).
I did not think it was appropriate to use those terms. In today's world where Islamic terrorist target sporting events, you had to read halfway through the article to realize they were not being literal.
By the way, Maria Sharapova leading 5-1 in a third set........... fell apart and lost (5-7) in another match today in France.
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