Tennis: Stunning Pe'er reaches quarterfinals in Miami

Israeli number 1 defeats world number 3 Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in the Sony Ericsson Open, will play Tathiana Garbin in next round.

By ALLON SINAI
peer 298.88 (photo credit: AP)
peer 298.88
(photo credit: AP)
Shahar Pe'er recorded one of the biggest wins of her career on Monday, defeating world number three Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, and advancing to the quarterfinals of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. The Israeli, who is ranked 16th in the world and seeded 14th in the huge $3,450,000 tournament, will next play Tathiana Garbin (25) in the quarterfinals and will have an excellent chance of reaching the semifinals of a Tier I event for the first time in her career. After breaking Kuznetsova in the seventh game of the match, Pe'er held serve in her next two games and wrapped up the first set. Both players struggled with their serve in the second set, but at 4-2 down the Russian reeled off four straight games and tied the match. Pe'er, who defeated Kuznetsova in the Australian Open this year, began the decisive set poorly and trailed 3-0. However, the Israeli won the next six games and advanced to the last eight in stunning fashion.