Shahar Peer has continued her sensational run at the Barclays Dubai Championships with a quarter final victory over China’s Li Na.

Leading 7-5 3-0, the Israeli advanced after Chinese player Na, world number 10, retired injured.

Peer, ranked 12 places lower than her opponent, has been making impressive progress in the tournament from which she was excluded last year when the UAE refused to grant her a visa.

Her early round games have all been played on the outside courts, affording easier security arrangements for officials. The few hundred spectators at the quarter final all passed through metal detectors before taking their seats.

Peer will now play either top seed Venus Williams or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the next round.

That match could take place on the 5,000-capacity Centre Court, posing a tougher challenge for security officials.

Tournament referee Alan Mills said the security situation would be handled “day-by-day”.