So I see.
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.
I hear you about the bias. But try keeping your all-consuming concern about it elsewhere.
This story is about a 19 year old girl from Israel playing tennis against a 25 year old Swiss girl who is trying to make a comeback after nearly four years away from the game. Plain and simple.
Take it elsewhere, please.
The girl, Peer, IS in the army. She IS a great shot with her weapons. Peer IS trying to gun down Hingis in the tournament. She HAS Martina Hingis in her sights. Too bad....... it's true. That is writing ...... sports writing ...... and good writing.
No big deal.
Worry about the bias you are so concerned about (and right to be concerned about) somewhere else.
This is a merely little game with a ball, a net, and a surface of red clay.
Game, set, match.
It is obviously not merely little game with a ball, a net, and a surface of red clay to the AFP.
Game, set, match.
Enjoy the rest of the day.
:-)
Hingis Faces Peer Review
Another play on words in the title, but may not rub you the wrong way.
Better?
http://www.sportinglife.com/tennis/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=tennis/06/06/04/manual_190458.html
Martina Hingis and Shahar Peer were level at a set apiece when play was halted due to bad light at the French Open on Sunday evening.
Hingis, tipped by many as a title chance, will now face a one-set shoot-out on Monday to determine whether she progresses to a quarter-final clash with Kim Clijsters. Four of the first five games went against the serve but Hingis eventually grasped the nettle and took the first set 6-3.
However, Peer moved an early break up in the second set was clearly the better player as she won it 6-2 before play ceased.
Hingis, who came out of retirement earlier this year, is looking to add the French title to her CV. It is the only Grand Slam crown she has yet to win.
****
If any would like to be removed from these tennis pings, please let me know.
Wow! They are allowing them to carry now?
Maybe I should start watching tennis
LOL........yeh, it's a real action game.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060604/ids_photos_sp/r4223410657.jpg
So I see.
;-)
Who is that, by the way?
I don't know anything about the players, I am just here to throw peanuts. :)
http://www.tennisrulz.com/players/vaidisova/gallery/001.shtml
http://www.nicolevaidisova.com/#
These players today almost all make the players of 25 years ago look like they were playing a different sport.
By the way, have you ever seen that girl we mentioned a little earlier (Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic)? I see that she is pretty nice. Check out her site and gallery if you wish.
http://www.tennisrulz.com/players/vaidisova/gallery/001.shtml
http://www.nicolevaidisova.com/#
She seems a nice player.
As far as looks, we're in CA and we see better than that a gazillion times a day, though I can't really account for why?
LOL ........ you are so right on that.
When I was playing baseball here in Pittsburgh back in '68, we played in a tournament out in Riverside in mid-March.
Let me tell you..... what a surprise coming out there was. There were so many beautiful girls, and most of the people looked real healthy. It was a real bummer coming back to the 'Burgh to snow showers, 28 degrees, gray skies, and tired people.
Culture shock it was........
;-)
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That -is- an awesome name for an athlete.
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