Shahar Peer (30) reached the quarter-finals of the ASB Classic in Auckland with victory over Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova (44). Amid highly embarrassing scenes for the tournament organisers, the match was marred by loud protests from pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside the Auckland Tennis Centre.

Peer, 22, persuaded officials not to postpone the match. She said: “It makes me all the more determined to win. It’s a disgrace that year after year the demonstrators target me. I’m a tennis player not a politician.”

Peer is due to play Maria Kirilenko In the quarter final. Meanwhile the WTA has reportedly received written confirmation from the UAE authorities that Peer will be given a visa for next month’s Dubai tournament.