Shahar Pe'er facts for kids
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Pe'er at the 2015 Wimbledon Qualifying
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| Country (sports) |  Israel |
|---|---|
| Residence | Macabim, Israel |
| Born | 1 May 1987 Jerusalem, Israel |
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Turned pro | 2004 |
| Retired | 28 February 2017 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $5,148,411 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 412–276 |
| Career titles | 5 |
| Highest ranking | No. 11 (31 January 2011) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (2007) |
| French Open | 4R (2006, 2007, 2010) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (2008) |
| US Open | QF (2007) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | Alt (2010) |
| Olympic Games | 2R (2008) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 189–175 |
| Career titles | 3 |
| Highest ranking | No. 14 (12 May 2008) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | F (2008) |
| French Open | QF (2008) |
| Wimbledon | QF (2005, 2008) |
| US Open | 3R (2007, 2010) |
| Other doubles tournaments | |
| Olympic Games | 1R (2008) |
Shahar Pe'er (born May 1, 1987) is a retired professional tennis player from Israel. She is known as one of the most successful female tennis players from her country.
Shahar won five singles titles and three doubles titles during her career on the WTA Tour. She also won four singles and three doubles titles on the lower-level ITF circuit. In January 2011, she reached her highest singles ranking, becoming world number 11. This was the highest ranking ever for an Israeli tennis player. In doubles, she reached number 14 in May 2008.
She made it to the quarterfinals of two major tournaments, called Grand Slams, in singles. She also reached the doubles final at the 2008 Australian Open with her partner Victoria Azarenka. Shahar won her first national tennis title in Israel when she was just 14. At 16, she won the Junior Girls’ Australian Open. She also played for Israel in the Fed Cup and represented her country in two Olympic Games.
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Early Life and Military Service
Shahar Pe'er was born in Jerusalem, Israel. Her father, Dov "Dovik" Pe'er, was born in South Africa and moved to Israel in 1961. Her mother is Aliza. Shahar started playing tennis at age six, joining her older brother and sister in lessons. When she was one year old, her family moved to Maccabim, Israel.
At 19, Shahar joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a soldier. When she wasn't traveling for tennis tournaments, she worked as an administrative secretary for the IDF in the mornings. In the afternoons, she practiced tennis.
Tennis Career Highlights
Starting Out in Tennis
Shahar began playing tennis in competitions at age six. Her first big win was in doubles at the Eddie Herr International tournament when she was 12. She also reached the singles final there.
In 2001, Shahar won the Nike Junior Tour International Masters. She also became the youngest Israeli to win the Israeli women's tennis championship. She won her age group at the Junior Orange Bowl.
Her first major victory came at the 2004 Australian Open, where she won the Juniors' Championship. She beat Nicole Vaidišová in the final. This made her the first Israeli woman to win a junior Grand Slam title since 1990.
Junior Grand Slam Results
- Australian Open – Champion (2004)
- French Open – Quarterfinals (2003, 2004)
- Wimbledon – Quarterfinals (2004)
- US Open – Semifinals (2004)
Becoming a Professional Player
Shahar became a professional tennis player in 2004. In 2005, she played in the main part of a Grand Slam event for the first time. She reached the third round at both the French Open and the US Open. She ended 2005 ranked number 45 in the world.
Rising Through the Ranks
In 2006, Shahar won her first three WTA singles titles in Pattaya, Prague, and Istanbul. She also beat top players like Elena Dementieva and Francesca Schiavone. She finished 2006 ranked 20th in the world.
At the 2007 Australian Open, Shahar made history. She became the first Israeli woman to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam event. She beat world number 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova but lost to Serena Williams. She continued to have strong results, reaching the semifinals of a major tournament in Miami. Shahar finished 2007 ranked 17th in the world.
In 2008, Shahar reached the doubles final at the Australian Open with Victoria Azarenka. She also made it to the fourth round at Wimbledon. There, she won a very long match against Dinara Safina, which was one of the longest ladies' singles matches in Wimbledon history.
In 2009, Shahar won two singles titles in a row in China and Uzbekistan. She won both tournaments without losing a single set. These wins helped her ranking go up to number 34. She finished the year ranked 30th in the world.
Shahar had a great start to 2010. She reached the semifinals in Dubai, beating top players like Caroline Wozniacki. She also made it to the semifinals in Madrid. At the 2010 French Open, she reached the fourth round. Because of her strong performance, Shahar achieved a new career-high ranking of world number 14. This was the highest ranking ever for an Israeli tennis player.
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In 2011, Shahar reached her highest career ranking of world number 11. She continued to play well, reaching the quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Open. She also made it to the final of the Citi Open in Maryland.
Challenges in Dubai
In February 2009, Shahar Pe'er was not allowed to play at the Dubai Tennis Championships. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) would not give her a visa because they did not have diplomatic relations with Israel at the time.
Many players, including Venus Williams, spoke out against this decision. Andy Roddick, who had won the men's singles in 2008, chose not to play in the tournament to protest. The Tennis Channel also decided not to show the event on TV.
The tournament director said Shahar was refused because her presence might cause anger. However, the WTA (Women's Tennis Association) said they would review future tournaments in Dubai.
In 2010, Shahar was allowed to play in Dubai. But she had very strict rules to follow. She could not mix with other players off the court and had special security. Despite the pressure, Shahar played very well. Other players, like Venus Williams, praised her for being brave and playing so well under difficult conditions.
How Shahar Played Tennis
Shahar Pe'er started her career with a "counter-puncher" style, meaning she would wait for her opponent to make a mistake. But by 2010, she played more aggressively. Her forehand shot was strong, and her two-handed backhand was one of the best on the women's tour. She was good at hitting the ball to different parts of the court. She also had a good serve and was comfortable coming to the net. During matches, she would often turn her back to the court, close her eyes, and clear her mind before the next point.
Federation Cup Participation
Shahar had a strong record playing for Israel in the Fed Cup. She won 21 out of 33 matches between 2002 and 2009. In 2009, she won both her singles matches against Ukraine's Bondarenko sisters.
Life After Retirement
Shahar Pe'er officially retired from tennis in February 2017. She had been dealing with a long-term shoulder injury. She also felt she no longer had the strong desire to live the life of a professional tennis player.
In 2018, Shahar married Dr. Eilon Ram. They have a son born in 2019 and a daughter born in 2021. In 2021, she appeared on the Israeli version of The Masked Singer as the Parrot.
Images for kids
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Pe'er at the 2015 Wimbledon Qualifying
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Pe'er at the 2004 US Open
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Pe'er at the 2006 US Open
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Pe'er at the 2008 Israel Tennis Championship
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Pe'er at the 2010 ASB Classic
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Pe'er at the 2011 Citi Open
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Pe'er in 2014
In Spanish: Shahar Pe'er para niños
- List of select Jewish tennis players
- List of Israelis
- Sport in Israel
