Pvt. Shahar Peer, like other 19-year-old Israelis, is serving in the army and has mastered the art of marksmanship. But for the past year, she has been making headlines for her work with the tennis racquet rather than the rifle.
Peer, ranked 25th, is one of the top women pro tennis players in the world. Local fans can see her compete July 24-31 at the Bank of the West Tennis Classic at Stanford University’s Taube Stadium.
“I learned to be a good shot with a rifle and am proud to serve my country in the army,” said Peer. “Being an athlete I do not get into combat, but I am prepared to do whatever the army wants when needed.” Her compulsory duty in the army ends October 2007.
Last May, she became the first Israeli-born tennis player to reach the fourth round of the French Open tournament.
Being an athlete on the women’s tennis circuit does not make an Israeli immune to political pressure. Indonesia recently refused to send their team to Israel for the Fed Cup in protest of “the Israeli action against Palestinians.” The International Tennis Federation awarded a forfeit to Israel, which will advance to World Group Two competition in 2007.
Peer became a household name in Israel and elsewhere when she won the Pattaya City tournament in February and the Istanbul and Prague tournaments in May. In Prague, Peer’s feisty play upset higher seed Anna-Lena Groenfeld and top-seeded Anastasia Myskina of Russia in the final round. She also won the doubles title in the same tournament teaming with Marion Bartoli of France.
At the French Open, seeded No. 21, Peer took former French Open winner Martina Hingis to three sets, losing 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.
“I was not sure how to play Peer. She is very tough to beat and you have to outwork her in order to win,” Hingis said after the match.
Born and raised in Maccabim, Peer took up tennis at age 6 but never imagined she’d be playing professionally.
By age 14, Peer won the prestigious Orange Bowl 14’s title in 2001 and became the first Israeli to win the Australian Junior Open in 2004.
Peer’s father, Dovik, goes with her. “My father has the opportunity of traveling with me whenever he can. I don’t really feel homesick, as I am close with other players on the tour,” she said.
One of her close friends on the tour is Sania Mirza of India, a Muslim. Mirza and Peer played doubles for a few tournaments, which drew criticism from Muslims in India.
“Sania and I are friends. I don’t think when we play doubles it should have anything to do with politics.”
Although not overtly religious, Peer feels bonded to her Jewish roots through family celebrations and her work with the Israel Tennis Centers. “When I was young, I would stay with many Jewish families around the world in fundraising events for Israel Tennis Centers and traveling in junior tennis. I learned about how being Jewish is celebrated throughout the world.”
Peer is the 10th seed at the tournament and aims to win her fourth title this year. Tickets range from $18-$55. For more information, call 1-866-WTATIXS or go to www.bankofthewestclassic.com.