Pe’er powers into Qatar’s second round

Pe’er converted six of eight break points against Kuznetsova (13) – who lost to Wozniacki in the final in Dubai on Sunday.

By ALLON SINAI
shahar peer_311 (photo credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS)
shahar peer_311
(photo credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Shahar Pe’er continued to succeed in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday, advancing to the second round of the Qatar Open with a convincing 6-2, 6-4 victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova.
After losing to world No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki, in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championships last week, Pe’er, ranked No. 12, wasted little time on her way to the last 16 in Doha.
Pe’er converted six of eight break points against Kuznetsova (13) – who lost to Wozniacki in the final in Dubai on Sunday.
Next up for Pe’er is a meeting with Marion Bartoli (18), who the Israeli has beaten in seven of their previous nine meetings, including in last year’s French Open.
Meanwhile, the squads for the tie between Israel and Poland in the second round of Europe/Africa Zone Group I – which will be played next weekend – were announced on Tuesday.
Dudi Sela (91), who beat Marinko Matosevic 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, in the first round in Delray Beach, Florida late Tuesday night, will be Israel’s No. 1 again.
Amir Weintraub (254), will make his debut as the team’s No. 2, and Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich will play doubles.
The Poles will be represented by Michal Przysiezny (110), and Jerzy Janowicz (148), in singles, and Marcin Matkowski and Mariusz Fyrstenberg in doubles.