Shahar Peer Excited To Be Back On Hard Courts
By James Waterson Photo Credit: Tony Chang
(July 20, 2011) After a disappointing clay and grass-court season, World No. 24 Shahar Peer said she was happy to be back on the hard courts.
Peer lost in the first round of the French Open and Wimbledon, and she has won only three matches since the end of March. Those results are quite different from the early hard court season, when she advanced to the quarterfinals of Dubai and Indian Wells.
“I’m very excited (to be back on hard courts,)” Peer said. “I was growing up on the hard courts, so I really like hard courts, obviously.”
The Israeli No. 1 is the top-seeded player at the inaugural Citi Open in College Park, Md. This is her first tournament since Wimbledon, and she said she spent her time celebrating her brother’s wedding and training with her coach, Harold Solomon, in Florida.
“I did a lot of fitness, did a lot of time on the court, (practicing) different shots. Getting the shots together, moving well and being aggressive,” she said.
The United States is a comfortable place for Peer, who said it’s her favorite country after Israel. Her results seem to indicate that, as she’s made the fourth round in three of the last five US Opens.
Although she played in San Diego last year, the 24-year-old plans to play tournaments close to New York City.
After the Citi Open, she said she will play in Washington D.C., the Rogers Cup in Toronto, Cincinnati and then the US Open.
“I’m very excited about it, I’m sure it’s going to be a good week and I’m looking forward to it,” she said.