Shahar Pe'er's historic Morocco appearance comes to abrupt end

First Israeli to play in Morocco loses to Hradecka; Dudi Sela advances to the quarterfinals of the Rhodes Challenger.

By ALLON SINAI
Shahar Peer 248.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
Shahar Peer 248.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
Shahar Pe'er's historic appearance in Morocco came to a swift ending after she suffered a 6-4, 6-1 defeat to Lucie Hradecka in the second round of the Fes tournament on Wednesday. Pe'er (53 in the world), who this week became the first Israeli to play in Morocco, had opened a 4-1 lead in the first set, but went on to lose 11 of the next 12 games to Hradecka (91) and will now be desperate for some confidence boosting victories in her next two tournaments in Estoril, Portugal, and Madrid ahead of the start of the French Open at the end of May. Dudi Sela, meanwhile, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Rhodes Challenger event on Wednesday, defeating Amer Delic 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Also Wednesday, Yoni Erlich lost in Rhodes in his first competitive match since August of last year. Erlich, who has been recovering from an elbow injury since the US Open, teamed up with Amir Hadad and the two were beaten 6-3, 4-6, 10-7 by Eric Butorac and Scott Lipsky.