Tennis: No Israeli representative in world top 100

Following Pe’er’s fall, Israel hasn’t got a men’s or women’s player in the world’s top-100 for the first time since 1998.

By ALLON SINAI
SHAHAR PE’ER (photo credit: Reuters)
SHAHAR PE’ER
(photo credit: Reuters)
Shahar Pe’er was knocked out in the first round for the fourth time in five tournaments this year on Monday, hours after plummeting 23 places to No. 114 in the world rankings.
Pe’er, who slid out of the top-100 for the first time since 2005, was thrashed 6-2, 6-2 by Kirsten Flipkens (34) in the opening round of the Memphis International and remained with just a single win to her name almost three months into 2013.
The 25-year-old Israeli was broken five times in the 66- minute encounter and lost in straight sets for the fifth time in the six matches she has played this year.
In fact, Pe’er has only won two sets all year long, claiming both in the victory over Alexandra Panova in the first round of the Australian Open.
Following Pe’er’s fall, Israel hasn’t got a men’s or women’s player in the world’s top-100 for the first time since 1998.
Israel’s top men’s player, Dudi Sela, climbed three places to No. 103 in the world on Monday.
In May 1998, Anna Smashnova entered the top-100, with five Israeli players, two female (Tzipi Obziler and Pe’er) and three male (Sela, Harel Levy and Noam Okun), also doing so since.