Shahar Pe'er into 1st WTA QF since 2012

The 25-year-old Israeli, ranked No. 118 in the world, comfortably beat Craybas (240) to progress to quarterfinal.

By ALLON SINAI
Shahar Pe'er 370 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Shahar Pe'er 370
(photo credit: REUTERS)
 Shahar Pe'er advanced to her first WTA Tour quarterfinal since January 2012 on Thursday, beating Jill Craybas 6-1, 6-3 to reach the last eight in Katowice, Poland.
The 25-year-old Israeli, ranked No. 118 in the world, comfortably beat Craybas (240) to progress to a quarterfinal for the first time since the Hobart International 15 months ago.
Pe'er lost in the final round of the qualifiers in Katowice to Anna Schmiedlova (186), but entered the main draw as a lucky loser following the retirement of Magdalena Rybarikova and will have a golden opportunity to qualify for the semifinals when she faces Romanian Alexandra Cadantu (117) on Friday.
Cadantu beat countrywoman Irina-Camelia Begu (51) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday.
Pe'er's win on Thursday is especially significant as it will likely ensure that she will not need to play in the qualifiers to enter the main draw of the year's second Grand Slam tournament at Roland Garros.