BySimon Griver, Simon Griver
Shahar Peer begins the 2011 season at the Brisbane International tournament on Sunday, looking a great bet to move into the top ten during January.
Having climbed from 30 in the WTA rankings to a career high of 13, the 24-year-old Israeli is set to scale new heights. She will overtake Elena Dementieva (9), who has officially retired, and Serena Williams (4), who is out due to injury, in the next few weeks. Justine Henin (12), who is only 50 points ahead of Peer, has pulled out of Brisbane to play the Hotman Cup
Peer has also appointed Craig Kardon, who has worked with Martina Navratilova and Lyndsay Davenport, as her new coach, and is optimistic after spending time in Miami with him working on her game.
"The winter training camp enabled me to add some improved elements to my game,"she said.
"These include moving into the net when I have the advantage and
better positioning on court. I feel
really strong and ready for the new season.
"The aim now is to improve and put down a foothold at the top. If I do this then the top ten will come."
Peer is clearly relishing her prospects for the coming year. She said: "The target is to go further in each tournament than I did last year and perhaps start winning some big tournaments."
Peer struggled to retain the Israel Women's Championship title in Ra'anana, but she still managed to beat the fast improving Julia Glushko (235) 7-5 in the third set.