Israel loses to Russia in Fed Cup Singles tennis quarterfinals
By Ruth MargalitIsraeli tennis star Shahar Peer lost Sunday to newly crowned Australian Open Champion Maria Sharapova on the second day of the Fed Cup World Group quarterfinal at Ramat Hasharon.
The game ended in just two sets, with the Russian easily winning past Peer 6:1, 6:1, after repeatedly breaking the Israeli's serve.
"I know Shahar well," Sharapova said after the match, which saw a large and noisy turnout of Israeli supporters. "She encouraged the crowd to cheer louder, but it ended up being in my favor because it seemed like she felt that she couldn't win this match on her own."
On the second match of the day, 81st seed Tzipi Obziler lost to seventh-ranked Anna Chakvetadze 6:4, 6:2, despite being 3:0 up in the first set.
The Russian team is now through to the semi-finals, after the first day of the Fed Cup Singles between Israel and Russia ended on equal standings, with Peer beating Dinara Safina, and Sharapova breezing past Obziler.
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