Pe’er pulls out tough straight-set triumph over Lisicki

Shahar Pe'er hopes to gain confidence before the US Open, which begins at month’s end.

By ALLON SINAI
shahar pe'er at Madrid Open_311 (photo credit: Reuters)
shahar pe'er at Madrid Open_311
(photo credit: Reuters)
Shahar Pe’er recorded her most impressive victory since March on Monday, advancing to the second round of the Cincinnati Open with a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over Sabine Lisicki.
Pe’er, who dropped one place to No. 24 in the world earlier Monday, showed no lasting effects from the embarrassing 6-1, 6-0 first-round exit to Aleksandra Wozniak in Toronto last week, beating the Wimbledon semifinalist Lisicki (22) in one hour and 35 minutes.
Pe’er looked to be cruising after opening a 5-0 lead in the second set, but she dropped the next six games and two match points before coming back to claim a confidence-boosting win by taking the tiebreak.
The 24-year-old Israeli, who had lost in the first round in five of her previous six tournaments, will have to play even better to advance further in Ohio, with her second- round opponent being world No. 4 Victoria Azarenka, who received a first-round bye.
Pe’er has met the Belarusian three times in the past, with Azarenka winning all three matches, including in the last 16 in Sydney earlier this year.
Also Monday, Julia Glushko continued her consistent climb up the rankings, rising two places to a new career-best No. 173 in the world.
Glushko will try and reach her first Grand Slam main draw when she plays in the US Open qualifiers next week.