Auckland - Top seed Elena Dementieva accomplished what
around 20 protestors could not as she sent Israeli Shahar Peer out in
the quarter-finals of the ASB Classic on Thursday.
Peer, who underwent Israeli military training which took time away
from her tennis in recent season, had been the target of protests
against her country's current invasion of Gaza in the Middle East,
but had insisted that the political situation had nothing to do with
her tennis.
But she didn't have long to ponder the situation as she lost in a
straightforward 6-3, 6-1 to Olympic champion Dementieva, ranked
fourth in the world.
The brief protest interlude ended early in the match as Dementieva
got down to business. 'I'm sure it was a tough day for her because of
the situation in her country,' said the Russian. 'I know she can play
better tennis next week.'
Added Peer: 'I'm not the government of Israel and I'm not
representing Israel as a politician.'
Dementieva next takes on France's Aravane Rezai, losing finalist a
year ago, who defeated Romanian Edina Gallovits 6-3, 6-2.
Beleaguered British tennis got a confidence boost as Anne
Keothavong advanced to the final four, her second after Calcutta two
years ago. The player with Laotian heritage won the first set 6-0
over Japanese qualifier Ayumi Morita, with her opponent quitting due
to a hamstring problem.
Second seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark lost in an upset 6-3,
0-6, 6-3, t0 Russian Elena Vesnina.
USA
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