Pe’er ousted by Wickmayer, still could reach top 10

Pe’er needs both Marion Bartoli, who faces Wickmayer in the semifinals, and Maria Sharapova, who played Shuai Peng in the quarterfinals.

By ALLON SINAI
YANINA WICKMAYER tennis 311 (photo credit: Reuters)
YANINA WICKMAYER tennis 311
(photo credit: Reuters)
Shahar Pe’er was knocked out in the quarterfinals of the WTA tournament in Indian Wells on Wednesday night, but she could still break into the world’s top-10 for the first time in her career when the new rankings are released on Monday.
Pe’er, currently ranked No. 12 in the world, was outplayed in a 6-3, 6-3 defeat to Yanina Wickmayer (25), but will still be pleased with her overall performance in the $4,500,000 event in California, especially as it could still see her make history next week.
Despite losing to Pe’er in their past two meetings, Wickmayer dominated proceedings for much of the last eight encounter in Indian Wells, recording the only break of the first set in the sixth game and racing to a 5-1 lead in the second set before wrapping up the win.
“I woke up this morning and felt really good,” said Wickmayer, who had 19 winners to Pe’er’s seven. “I had a good practice and when I came out today I felt really good and powerful out there.”
The defeat to Wickmayer means Pe’er will need other results to go her way to enter the top-10 next Monday.
Pe’er needs both Marion Bartoli, who faces Wickmayer in the semifinals, and Maria Sharapova, who played Shuai Peng in the quarterfinals overnight, to fail to make the final, or she will have to wait a little longer to reach another landmark in her career.
Bartoli shrugged off a stomach bug to reach the semis with a 6- 4, 7-6 victory over former world number one Ana Ivanovic.
The Frenchwoman was handed a place in the last eight when Belgian Kim Clijsters retired during the second set of their encounter the previous day with a painful shoulder.
In the men’s event in Indian Wells, Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer reached the quarterfinals without dropping a set while eighth-seeded Andy Roddick bowed out.
Djokovic extended his perfect record this season to 15-0 by pounding fellow Serb Viktor Troicki 6-0, 6-1 and Spanish world number one Nadal had to work a little harder before seeing off plucky Indian qualifier Somdev Devvarman 7-5, 6-4.
Second-ranked Federer, seeking a record fourth title at Indian Wells, was tested to the full in a tight opening set by 18- year-old American Ryan Harrison before booking his place in the last eight 7-6, 6-3.
Djokovic next faces Richard Gasquet, Nadal takes on Croat Ivo Karlovic, a 7-6, 6-2 winner against Spaniard Albert Montanes, and Federer will play fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, who upset seventh-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Reuters contributed to this report.