Shahar Pe’er (שחר פאר) is an Israeli professional tennis player. Pe’er started her competitive tennis career at the age of six, and won her first title at the age of 12 when she captured the Eddie Herr International Doubles title with Nicole Vaidišová. She reached the Eddie Herr singles final as well. Her career-high singles ranking is world no. 11, which she achieved on January 31, 2011. She also reached the women’s doubles final at the 2008 Australian Open with Victoria Azarenka. Pe’er has won five WTA singles titles, and three WTA doubles titles. As of November 24, 2012, Pe’er was ranked world no. 74 in singles, and no. 79 in doubles.
Playing style
Pe’er originally played with a “counter-puncher” style, but by 2010 she had adopted a more attacking style of play. Her forehand uses a semi-western grip, which makes her good in facing big top-spin opponents. Her two-handed backhand swing is considered one of the best on the women’s tour. It is consistent and finds various angles throughout the court. She originally used a kick serve that lacked the drive needed to penetrate deep, but she changed it to more of a slice serve, which works great for her now and even generates aces. She has a good volley and has no problems going to the net. During matches, she often turns her back to her opponent between points, faces the back of the court, closes her eyes and tries to wipe the mental slate clean.
Timeline
2001 – In the Fall of 2001, Pe’er took first place in the Nike Junior Tour International Masters tennis tournament in the Bahamas, and soon became the youngest Israeli tennis player ever to win the Israeli women’s tennis championship. It was also in late 2001 that Pe’er won the 55th annual Ericsson Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships under-14 girls’ title without dropping a single set, competing with 127 other girls in what is considered the unofficial world championships for youth.
2002 – In March, Pe’er won the Bat Yam International singles title, and was a doubles finalist. In April, she was victorious at the Haifa International doubles event, and in March 2003 won the Aamata Cup in Thailand.
2004 – Pe’er turned professional in 2004, a year during which she played both the ITF Circuit and the WTA Tour. Pe’er’s first major victory came at the 2004 Australian Open, where she won the Juniors’ Championship. She beat her former partner Vaidišová in the final, and became the first Israeli women to win a junior Grand Slam title since Anna Smashnova won the French Open girl’s singles title in 1990.
2007 – She attained her best Grand Slam singles result when she reached the quarterfinals at the 2007 Australian Open and the 2007 US Open.
Online
Official website – http://www.shaharpeer.co.il
Shahar Pe’er at the Women’s Tennis Association – http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/10493
Shahar Pe’er at the Fed Cup – http://www.fedcup.com/en/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=100012630
Tennis Terms in Hebrew
בייגל – Bagel
דאבל בייגל – Double Bagel
דרופ שוט – – drop shot
הגשה ללא מענה – ace
ווינר – winner
חבטת גב יד – backhand
חוץ – OUT
טעות בלתי מחויבת – unforced error
נקודה מופסקת – Let
נקודת מערכה – set point
נקודת משחק – match point
נקודת משחקון – game point
נקודת שבירה – break point
שגיאה – fault
שגיאה כפולה – double fault
שגיאת רגל – foot fault
