With Israeli teenager Shahar Peer now up to a career-high ranking of 18, it will be interesting to see how she fares here in Australia. Reaching the semis on the Gold Coast, and the quarters in Sydney, she's in good form. Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich are in the top 10 doubles players, and hopefully they can repeat their success from last year, and start off on a good note. After a taste of Masters Cup action, they will be hungry for Grand Slam victories more than ever. Ram, won the mixed doubles Grand Slam Wimbledon last year, and knows what it takes.
The singles draw was announced a few hours ago. The following Israeli women were given their first round opponents. 16th seed Shahar Peer will play Italy's Romina Oprandi. Tzipora Obziler will have to play against 22nd seed Russian Vera Zvonareva. The men's doubles draw involving Andy Ram and Jonanthan Erlich will be announced on Jan. 17. Anna Smashnova will be up against 20th seed Frenchwoman Tatiana Golovin.
Dudi Sela qualified for the men's singles draw and will play Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan in the first round. Sela, Peer, and Smashnova are all in action on Day 1.
Well Peer, who has shot up to No. 17 in the WTA rankings, is a smokey. Still in her teenage years, she has a long future ahead of her. I think she'll probably make it past the third or fourth rounds. And Ram and Erlich, are probably the best chance - making the Masters Cup, and ending up at No. 7 in the doubles rankings I think. Although they lost their first round match in Adelaide I think, they're definitely a chance.
Dudi Sela (Israel) def. Paradorn Srichiphan (Thailand) 6-4 6-2 6-2. Sela now plays 2005 Australian Open champion Marat Safin tonight. Shahar Peer (Israel) def. Romina Oprandi (Italy) 6-1 6-3. Peer now plays Meilen Tu(USA). Anna Smashnova (Israel) lost to Tatiana Golovin (France) 6-3 6-1. Tzipora Obziler(Israel) plays Russia's Vera Zvonareva. The two were scheduled to play yesterday but the heat was too extreme to play. Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich (Israel) will play Thomas Johansson (Sweden) and Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) tomorrow.
4th ROUND WOMEN's SINGLES Shahar Peer (Israel) defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) 6-6-4 6-2 3rd ROUND MEN's DOUBLES Andy Ram/Jonathan Erlich (Israel) will play Mahesh Bhupathi/Radek Stepanek (India/Czech Republic) 1st ROUND MIXED DOUBLES Andy Ram/Vera Zvonareva (Israel/Russia) will play Chris Guccione/Casey Dellacqua (Australia) Earlier in the week, Israel's Dudi Sela lost in five sets to Russia's Marat Safin. Sela, at one stage up two sets to one, was two points away from victory before a rain delay interrupted.
ahh pe'er was soo close to winning. oh well. i guess america wins once again. maybe next grand slammer.
Two points away from victory, a gallant Shahar Peer lost to American Serena Williams 3-6 6-2 8-6. Israeli duo Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich lost to Czech Radek Stepanek and Indian Mahesh Bhupathi 7-6 4-6 6-3. And Andy Ram and Russian partner Vera Zvonareva lost to Australians Chris Guccione and Casey Dellacqua 7-6 6-4. So there are no more Israelis remaining in the Australian Open, and I think Shahar Peer will rise to No. 15 in the next WTA Rankings.
