Last update - 00:00 23/01/2008
Israeli tennis star Shahar Pe'er advances to Australian Open finals
By Rami Hipsh, Haaretz Correspondent
Israeli tennis star Shahar Pe'er advanced to the doubles final at the Australian Open Wednesday night with her partner, Belarussian Victoria Azarnaka, becoming the first Israeli woman to ever reach the finals of a Grand Slam tournament.
Pe'er and Azarnaka defeated the Chinese duo by their score of 0-6, 7-5, 7-6.
"It was a seesaw game. We did not play well at the beginning of the match. But we knew that he had a chance," Pe'er said.
"It is a great achievement for me, seeing as I have never advanced even to the semi-finals of any Grand Slam tournament. While singles tennis is still my main focus, it is always fun to reach the finals in a doubles tournament as well, especially if it's a Grand Slam."
Meanwhile, Israelis had much success in the men's doubles tournament as well. Long-time doubles partners Yoni Erlich and Andy Ram advanced to the semi-finals Wednesday.
It is the third time that Andy Ram reached the doubles final, however the first time he did so not in the mixed doubles tournament.
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